Lecture: Linguistic Justice

Service Description

Language is like the water we swim in. It's everywhere, all the time. And as a result, it's not often that we actually dig deep into what it is, what it does, or how it works. In fact, most of the things that you know about language are probably not based in fact, but in assumptions created through its use. That's where the power of language lies- it is everywhere, and also rarely the subject, itself, of a critical eye. In this simultaneous power and invisibility, injustice can thrive, metastasize, and have a far greater impact on your life and the lives of people around you than you may have ever imagined. This lecture will turn that critical eye toward the language we use and its impacts from small to large to overwhelming. It will challenge your preconceived notions, dispell popular and harmful myths, and replace them with truths. Then, finally, it will turn to your audience and your organization and help you to see concrete ways that you can make small changes in your stance toward language that can have big impacts for you, your organization, your community, and the world.