Neil Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, I’m Neil and with me is Feifei.
Feifei Hello.
NeilNow Feifei, if you just put on your headphones you’ll be able to hear what I’m saying.
FeifeiYes, I know that.
NeilAnd you need to push that thing there – we call it a fader – we push that up and speak into the microphone.
FeifeiAh, yes Neil I already know that.
NeilYou see, Feifei, you have to be careful not to be too close to the microphone when you speak, because the pressure of your breath will create this sound - we call that a ‘pop’ and the recording will sound bad and our listeners will complain.
FeifeiNeil! I’ve been working in radio for over 10 years! I know how to use the studio! Stop mansplaining.
NeilFeifei, I was only doing it to introduce that word – mansplaining. It’s a new word. It’s made up of two parts – ‘man’ and ’explaining’. Mansplaining is when a man explains something to a woman as if they are stupid or knows less about a subject simply because she is a woman.
Feifei Here are some examples.
ExamplesSo there was this guy mansplaining the offside rule to me. I’ve been playing football since I was 4 years old!
Man: Push your foot down a bit harder on the clutch before you try to change gear. It’ll make it much smoother.
Woman: Quit the mansplaining. I’m a taxi driver, OK?
FeifeiMansplaining. A man’s explanation to a woman, which shows he thinks he knows more than her just because he’s a man.
NeilAnd did you know Feifei that it’s also a verb – to mansplain? Yes, language changes all the time, Feifei. New words come and old words change meaning. That’s something all language learners need to know…
Feifei Neil! Stop! Mansplaining!
BothBye!