Just Words: Do We Control Language or Does Language Control Us?
Setup
Words come at us in print, online, and on the air; in podcasts, movies, editorials, and advertorials; through e-mail, texts, and tweets. Words may shock, like those of Samantha Bee and Roseanne. They may be code, like pro-life or climate change, for political ideas or beliefs. But how do words affect on our democracy — and us? Do we flatten the power of words through repetition or familiarity, as in, “Let me be honest”? Do we all receive the same message when we hear the same words? Join a talented panel of language experts to explore the implications of our roiling language scene, and see what’s inside the world of words we speak and hear every day.
Speakers
-
Elisa NewCreator, Director, and Host, Poetry in America; Director, Verse Video... -
Ann B. FriedmanFounder and Chair, Planet Word -
Deborah FallowsLinguist; Contributing Writer, The Atlantic -
John McWhorterProfessor of Linguistics, English, and Comparative Literature, Columbi... -
Deborah TannenLinguistics Professor, Georgetown University; Author, You're the Only...
- 2018 Festival
- Society
Explore More
Society
More and more, companies are embracing the concept of corporate purpose as Americans' perceptions of big business have shifted. While declaring a purpose beyond profit is a st...
Love is an emotion and an instinct for sure, but the ability to love is a skill that every young person should be taught, given how important relationships and love are to eve...
Rick Doblin wants to be a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. Learn about his work using MDMA, or ecstasy, to help people suffering from PTSD.
Small moments of joy are often the first to go when we're stressed or in a crisis. But they're actually a tool to restore our emotional well-being, says designer Ingrid Fetell...
Valerie Jarrett shares advice on stepping out of your comfort zone, her favorite memories from inside the White House, and how we can empower women and working families.
Race has divided our country since colonization, with some calling slavery America's original sin. The history of the US, from the Civil War to Jim Crow and Black Lives Matter...
