The Next Big Idea Daily Other People's Words
Jan 10, 2025
Lissa Soep, Senior Editor for Audio at Vox Media and author of "Other People's Words," explores the profound ways language can heal grief. She discusses how the words of those we've lost provide lasting comfort and inspiration, creating enduring connections. The conversation highlights the philosophical concept of 'double voicing' and includes personal stories about keeping memories alive through writing letters and using AI to blend voices in poetry. This blend of language and memory emphasizes the power of communication in the face of loss.
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Voices of the Departed
- After loved ones die, their voices live on in those left behind.
- Lissa Soep found this after losing two close friends.
Double Voicing
- Our voices contain the words of others, a concept called "double voicing" by Mikhail Bakhtin.
- We speak with multiple voices, blending others' words with our own.
How's Johnny?
- A friend asked Johnny's wife, Emily, "How's Johnny?" after his death.
- The present tense offered comfort and acknowledged his continued presence in her life.