Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language

In 'Politics and the English Language', George Orwell argues that vague and imprecise language can obscure truth and manipulate public opinion. He critiques the 'ugly and inaccurate' written English of his time, particularly in political contexts, where language is used to 'make lies sound truthful and murder respectable'. Orwell emphasizes the importance of clear and concrete language, suggesting that poor writing fosters poor political thinking and is a danger to society. He provides examples of bad writing and offers guidelines for effective writing, including six rules to avoid the misuse of language. Orwell believes that language and thought are interdependent and that improving language can help improve political life.

In this book, Deborah Tannen examines the distinct communication styles of men and women, which she terms 'genderlects. ' Women engage in 'rapport-talk,' aimed at promoting social affiliation and emotional connection, while men use 'report-talk,' focused on exchanging information with little emotional import. Tannen argues that these differences in communication styles, which begin in childhood, can lead to misunderstandings and conflict. The book uses anecdotes from literature and personal experiences to illustrate these differences and suggests that understanding these styles can help mitigate discord between men and women.

In 'Wordslut,' Amanda Montell deconstructs language to reveal how it has been used for centuries to keep women and other marginalized genders from power. She examines various aspects of language, including insults, cursing, gossip, catcalling, grammar, and pronunciation patterns, and how these elements have contributed to stereotypes and biases. Montell's approach is humorous and engaging, making linguistics accessible and entertaining while highlighting the need for social change. The book moves between history, science, and popular culture to address questions about gender-neutral terms, vocal fry, and filler words, ultimately shedding light on the biases that affect women in culture and consciousness.