Moist. Did that word make you feel something? No? How about curd, gelatinous or chunky?
We are constantly bombarded by words that shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in subtle yet powerful ways. Your repulsion to the words above may be trivial, but the effects of language – particularly language that finds its way into our daily routine – can be significant and far-reaching. (“Fake news” anyone?)
This talk will seek to shed light on how language is weaponized against us, while probing the question of why these linguistic assaults are so effective in the first place. By doing so, we can build up our defenses against them and, hopefully, learn how to harness the power of words to spur positive change – both for ourselves and for the people around us.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.