Donald Trump has been a salesman for nearly half a century. He is now selling himself, his worldview and his self-serving views of the law … Trump has turned words into weapons. And he’s winning the linguistic warRead more
Language
Posted inLanguage / ToMl
The slippery slope of dehumanizing language
Comparing people to animals seems to increasingly be a part of our political discourse. When Roseanne Barr tweeted that former White House senior adviser Valerie … The slippery slope of dehumanizing languageRead more
Posted inLanguage / Politics / ToMl
Don’t retweet Donald Trump and don’t use his language
DW: You argue that many well-meaning people including journalists completely ignore the latest findings in the field of cognitive and brain science when they try … Don’t retweet Donald Trump and don’t use his languageRead more
Posted inLanguage / Politics / Science / ToMl
The President Is The Nation
Metaphors in the Brain We know from neuroscience that most thought is unconscious, carried out by neural circuitry. In Metaphors We Live By, Mark Johnson … The President Is The NationRead more
Posted inLanguage / Politics / Science / ToMl
The Importance of Naming
Donald Trump knows the power of branding and actually makes huge profits by selling the use of his name. But the power of naming and … The Importance of NamingRead more
Posted inLanguage / Politics / ToMl
Two Questions About Trump and Republicans that Stump Progressives
Progressives are stumped. They are asking these questions over and over again on social media, TV, and radio: 1) Why don’t Trump supporters turn against … Two Questions About Trump and Republicans that Stump ProgressivesRead more
Posted inLanguage / ToMl
Why Do Human Beings Speak So Many Languages?
Makelua, island in the South Pacific, in the nation of Vanuatu. There are 16 different communities and spoke 16 distinct languages. According to recent work … Why Do Human Beings Speak So Many Languages?Read more
Posted inLanguage / Politics / Science / ToMl
Karen Handel’s “I Am Not a Crook Moment”: “I Do Not Support a Livable Wage!”
During Watergate, Richard Nixon famously said, “I am not a crook.” And, immediately, Americans coast-to-coast thought of him as a crook. This incident inspired my … Karen Handel’s “I Am Not a Crook Moment”: “I Do Not Support a Livable Wage!”Read more
Posted inLanguage / Politics / ToMl
Language and Freedom
When I was invited to speak on the topic “Language and freedom”, I was puzzled and intrigued. Most of my professional life has been devoted … Language and FreedomRead more
Posted inLanguage / Politics / Science / ToMl
Understanding Trump’s Name
A Voyage Into Sound Symbolism by George Lakoff As strange as it may sound, the sound symbolism of a name has become an unnamed central … Understanding Trump’s NameRead more