Ep. #187: From Curiosity & Language to Linguistic Justice, with Sonja Lanehart
Jan 26, 2023
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In this episode, linguistics professor Sonja Lanehart explores the influence of language on our understanding of curiosity. They discuss African American women's language, linguistic justice, decolonizing language, and the controversy around the word 'the'. They also engage in a playful game of analogies to deepen their understanding of curiosity.
Curiosity and language influence our comfort and understanding of the words we use.
Linguistic justice requires challenging Eurocentric perspectives and including diverse voices in language studies.
Deep dives
Language and Words: Exploring Curiosity and Linguistics
In this podcast episode, the host explores the relationship between language, curiosity, and the power of words. The conversation with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, a linguistics expert, delves into the importance of words and language in understanding and expressing curiosity. The episode discusses the concept of "woke" and its connection to curiosity, highlighting the anti-wokeness movement as a lack of curiosity. Dr. Lanehart also shares insights on linguistic justice and the need to challenge linguistic norms and stereotypes. The conversation explores the significance of the Oxford Dictionary of African American English and its role in legitimizing and representing African American language. Overall, this episode emphasizes the role of language and words in shaping our understanding and expression of curiosity.
Linguistic Justice and Decolonizing Language
In this episode, Dr. Sonja Lanehart discusses the concept of linguistic justice in the context of decolonizing language. The conversation explores the need to challenge Eurocentric perspectives in language and rethink the ways in which words are defined and understood. Dr. Lanehart emphasizes the importance of including diverse voices and experiences in the process of creating dictionaries or classifying language. She highlights the goal of the Oxford Dictionary of African American English to provide a historical and socio-cultural context for African American language, challenging perceptions of its legitimacy. The episode delves into the complexities of linguistic justice and the ongoing work towards inclusivity and understanding in language studies.
Curiosity as a Driving Force in Language Research
In this podcast episode, Dr. Sonja Lanehart shares her personal journey into linguistics and how curiosity has played a pivotal role in her research. The discussion highlights the importance of curiosity in language studies and the power dynamics surrounding the questions asked in academia. Dr. Lanehart explores the challenges faced by African American linguists in proving the legitimacy of African American language, and the shift towards allowing curiosity to guide research instead of constantly having to prove oneself. The conversation touches on the role of curiosity in language evolution, regional language variations, and personal preferences towards certain words and pronunciations. Overall, the episode emphasizes the transformative potential of curiosity in understanding and appreciating the complexity of language.
How might choosing to be curious about language influence our familiarity with, understanding of, or comfort around the very words we use to express curiosity --- or anything else? That's where this fascinating conversation with University of Arizona linguistics professor Sonja Lanehart started.
But it wasn't long before we were talking about new words for curiosity, the forthcoming Oxford Dictionary of African American English, and curiosity as a privilege reserved for those who have already managed to establish legitimacy for their fields of study.
Get to know Sonja Lanehart: https://coe.arizona.edu/person/sonja-lanehart
Learn more about the Oxford Dictionary of African American English, and help crowdsource words: https://public.oed.com/oxford-dictionary-of-african-american-english/
Curious about Michael Harriot, Whypipologist? He explains all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spC2QSrM7f4
One of the breadcrumbs in my “inspiration trail” for this episode was Pip William’s lovely book The Dictionary of Lost Words: https://pipwilliams.com.au/the-dictionary-of-lost-words/
Theme music by Sean Balick; “Tuck and Point” by Onesuch Village, via Blue Dot Sessions.
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