{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgrammar-girl-grammarpaloozian-bonus-feed.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2F1233-JWAAHQ_4","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"The ancient word for 'star' and the steppe nomads who spread it, with Laura Spinney","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/144e46c6-af93-41fd-b037-2ab1fda9b542/ce075fd3-781a-43fb-9ef3-a465b9d2739d/grammar_girl_assets_templates_2_fb_ig_profile_picture_v1.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"<iframe src=\"https://player.simplecast.com/a4273f46-80b5-4aa4-912d-7b355bdc700f\" height=\"200\" width=\"100%\" title=\"The ancient word for &apos;star&apos; and the steppe nomads who spread it, with Laura Spinney\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"></iframe>","height":200,"description":"1233. This week, we talk to Laura Spinney, author of \"Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global.\" We look at how linguists reconstruct a language no one wrote down and why the ancient word for \"wheel\" is still debated. Then we look at how ancient DNA pointed to nomadic herders on the steppe and how feasting and storytelling may have helped their language spread."}