"Bad Words Are Ouchies" with Eve Droma

Sørina and her sister Eve (a sociolinguist) talk about situations in which words can cause psychological or emotional harm, marginalize people with intellectual differences, or even contribute to attempted genocide. Drawing on her field work in Russia, Romania, and the Middle East, Prof. Droma provides an overview of linguistic work and encourages listeners to use the terms that people want them to use and that are currently operating as tools of communication. She speaks of the importance of forgiveness and acceptance as ways to ameliorate combative and hurtful rhetoric.