vailsymposium

Nancy & Stephen Dowdle, Carole & Pete Feistmann, Laine & Merv Lapin, Cathy Pollard & Dr. Alan Markowitz, Jeanne & Dale Mosier, Mary Pat & Keith Rapp, and Sandy & Fred Pack underwrite the Conversations on Controversial Issues series.

To join the livestream, click here to access Zoom webinar.

What words do we use, how do we use them, and who gets to say what, and who decides? In an era when we are at times becoming more aware of renaming of places (i.e., removing “Squaw” and reassessing violent figures), we also seem less prone to check our language in other arenas, with extreme language showing up more frequently in politics and profanity appears in more general use. Norms of what is acceptable are changing rapidly. What makes language “good” or “bad” and in what contexts? What becomes profane? Who gets the power of naming the places we are in, and how is the discourse of even what we call ourselves (pronouns) being shaped?

In this fun and informative conversation, Clay Jenkinson is joined by Dr. Valerie Fridland, professor of linguistics and author of “Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English.” Dr. Fridland has been featured in media outlets ranging from the Wall Street Journal and New York Times to Armchair Expert, Alan Alda’s “Clear+Vivid” and NPR. They will discuss the paradox of free speech, the balances between cancellation and allowing for good faith efforts, and talk about the historic and current challenges we encounter in the search for shared meaning. What role does language play in class and group identity? Does humor play a role?  Most importantly, why does it matter, and can we use the power of words to learn to listen to one another more openly?

Join Clay and Valerie for this fascinating conversation about how the words we use shape the world we interact in every day.

Recommended reading available at The Bookworm in Edwards:
“Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English” by Valerie Fridland