Stanford linguist Geoffrey Nunberg looks at the language used in the media, business, and politics, and pays special attention to President Bush’s rhetoric surrounding the U.S. occupation of Iraq. From Bush’s labeling Iraq and North Korea rogue states to his vague exhortations against evil-doers, Nunberg alerts us to how language impacts our policies and culture.
Guests:
Geoffrey Nunberg, senior researcher at the Center for the Study of Language and Information and professor of linguistics at Stanford University. He is usage editor of the American Heritage Dictionary and has written extensively on language, including a regular feature in the “Week in Review” section of the Sunday New York Times. His new book is “Going Nucular: Language, Politics and Culture in Controversial Times.”
