E14: Dr Suzanne Wertheim - The Power Of Language

Thank you so much for tuning in! On today's episode I speak to Dr Suzanne Wertheim on  everything language, and specifically in terms we use it in our day to day as well as professional settings. I thought it was a very timely conversation to have, as we are starting to debate and pay more attention to the words and language we use, and the emotional and historic meaning they carry.

Language is a social practice or tool that we use to communicate to each other; and it can be written, spoken, signed, 'speaking' through our eyes etc. As we communicate, one thing we often overlook is the power the language we use carries. 

People speak roughly 7,000 languages worldwide. Although there is a lot in common among languages, each one is unique, both in its structure and in the way it reflects the culture of the people who speak it.

Our linguistic choices can amplify a message. Or they can muddy it, and lessen its impact.

My today's guest is Dr Suzanne Wertheim, a researcher, consultant, and educator on issues relating to language and culture from San Francisco. The current focus of her work is on bias in both everyday interactions and organisational systems. Specifically in the ways that language expresses bias. Dr Wertheim also provides legal consulting on the language of bias and discrimination.

On this episode you will hear about:

1) Cultural and social impact on language engineering.
2) Evolution of language and how has our intake of information changed.
3) Erasure: missing historic narratives
4) Media: the power of dividing & uniting
5) How do we change narratives without dehumanising people?

Liked the conversation? Let me know by rating & reviewing this podcast and engage in the conversation on Twitter by using #changeagentpodcast.

You can follow and reach out to Dr Wertheim via:
LinkedIn: suzanne-wertheim-ph-d-1508464/
Twitter: @WorthwhileR&C
E-mail: [e-mail]

Get in touch with Baiba via:
Twitter: @BaibaZiga and @Consulting_LHC
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Website: www.lakehouse-consulting.com (subscribe to a weekly newsletter with handpicked articles, podcasts, videos and books)

Baiba is a People and Culture Transformation Consultant, whose mission is to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces through building cultural intelligence and better equipping leaders. Get in touch with Baiba to talk about how she can help your organisation with cultural intelligence and leadership development on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion topics.

Resources and Further Reads:

https://news.stanford.edu/2019/08/22/the-power-of-language-how-words-shape-people-culture/

https://medium.com/and-beyond/the-power-of-language-bd910567f8e5

https://news.stanford.edu/2019/06/25/analyzing-tweets-republicans-democrats/