Stay Tuned with Preet Word Crimes (with John McWhorter)
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Apr 3, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, John McWhorter, a Columbia linguist and author of "Pronoun Trouble," delves into the controversial realm of language and identity. He elaborates on how pronouns have evolved and the significance of their usage in contemporary society. Max Stearns, a constitutional law scholar, joins to explore lessons the U.S. can learn from parliamentary democracies, critiquing the limitations of the two-party system and advocating for more collaborative political solutions. Together, they challenge norms and inspire nuanced conversations around language and governance.
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Early Language Fascination
- John McWhorter was fascinated by language at age four after hearing a different language for the first time.
- He felt left out and wanted to learn the other language, sparking his interest in linguistics.
Early Linguistics Education
- McWhorter believes linguistics should be taught earlier, even in fifth grade.
- He suggests replacing some vocabulary lessons with basic linguistic concepts to reduce unintentional linguistic discrimination.
Pronoun Poverty of English
- English has fewer pronouns than many other languages, making it "pronoun poor".
- Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition, and every language has them.
