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Transcript

Big Names in Naming: The John Elliott Episode

"Names don't come from the dictionary—they come from us."

I talk to John about:

  • His transition from linguistics in an academic setting to applying them to naming work

  • The ~vibes~ of names and how linguistics can tell us why we like what we like

  • Some linguistic basics we can all apply to our own naming work (it’s time to become a freak about phonesthemes)

Plus, we play Defend! That! Name! and John pitches me Giant Bore for a dry cleaners, Odditory estate planning service, and Granted for a book binding service.

Some of my favorite LinkedIn posts from John:

The Namer’s Guide to the Beauty Mark

The Poetic Descriptive: Hidden Ablaut Reduplication

Hidden Vibes

Phonesthemic Vibes Pt. 2

About John Elliott

John is a linguistics researcher and naming strategist based in Honolulu, HI. He works with agencies and brands to create effective names and naming systems based on insights and methods from linguistics, typology, and formal ontology. For more, visit elliottverbal.com.

Big Names in Naming is a Naming for Everyone podcast.

For more naming resources, live and self-guided classes, and a weekly newsletter, visit namingforeveryone.com. And if you're a major brand in need of naming help, you can work directly with Caitlin's studio, Wild Geese Studio wildgeesestudio.com.

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