The Pernicious Cycle of Language Change

3min Snip

00:00

Play full episode

Summary

Transcript

Episode notes

We don't police our language when we are members of marginalized communities according to the norms of the dominant society. We allow different linguistic tendencies that are underlying all language to just affect change in our varieties. When we allow language to emerge and become naturally communicative naturally connection making naturally part of our identity process then it becomes something that other people look at and want to take over.

Language changes, and that's not a bad thing! This week, Adam is joined by sociolinguist Valerie Fridland to uncover how language is much more malleable than we're led to believe, and how the resistance against new slang often disguises an attempt to limit the influence of marginalized communities. Pick up Valerie's book at factuallypod.com/books

Like the show? Rate Factually! 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts and let Adam know what conversation you'd like to hear next.

Advertise on Factually! via Gumball.fm

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/adamconover

SEE ADAM ON TOUR: https://www.adamconover.net/tourdates/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.