The Origin of Taboo American Place Names—and What Coyote Might Have to Say About It

Susie’s interview with her linguist dad, Bill Bright, about where all the unspeakable place names came from.!

This week I am thinking of my father, Bill Bright, and what he would have said about our lives right now.

Bill and his granddaughter Aretha in the early 00s.

Bill joined me twice on my Audible “In Bed” podcast— to talk about the the taboo origins of various United States place names. He was a place name research expert¹, and you will be amazed at some of the things he found out!

He also sang me Coyote songs about finding your erotic Soulmate, and told me how the word "Squaw" travelled so far, and tragically, from its origin as an Algonquin morpheme.

Take a listen!