The hosts explore the line between exaggeration and lying, discussing why people exaggerate and why it can be difficult to stop doing so. They also delve into the misuse of the word 'literally' and its implications, sharing personal experiences and seeking insights from a linguist. The chapter explores the evolution of language, the influence of our environment on language, and the frustrations of imprecise language use.
Why do we use “literally” figuratively? Does conveying an "emotional truth" justify making things up? And are Angela’s kids really starving or just hungry?
RESOURCES:
- "My Response to The New Yorker Article," by Hasan Minhaj (YouTube video, 2023).
- "Hasan Minhaj’s 'Emotional Truths,'" by Clare Malone (The New Yorker, 2023).
- "Lying to Spice up Life," by Holly Cole (Society for Personality and Social Psychology, 2019).
- Words on the Move: Why English Won't - and Can't - Sit Still (Like, Literally), by John McWhorter (2016).
- "Literally," entry by Deathmatch1127 (Urban Dictionary, 2015).
- "Does Living in California Make People Happy? A Focusing Illusion in Judgments of Life Satisfaction," by David A. Schkade and Daniel Kahneman (Psychological Science, 1998).
- The Giver, by Lois Lowry (1993).
EXTRAS:
SOURCES:
- Holly Cole, assistant professor of psychology at Wesleyan College.
- Daniel Kahneman, professor emeritus of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University.
- Mark Liberman, professor of linguistics and computer and information science at the University of Pennsylvania.
- Lois Lowry, author.
- John McWhorter, professor of English and comparative literature at Columbia Unviersity.
- Hasan Minhaj, comedian.