Episode 407 - Dr. Suzanne Wertheim. Inclusive Language in Today's World Wins the Day!
The cultural changes we've seen in recent years might make us think that 21st-century etiquette is utterly different than the 20th century’s. Yet the only difference is that when Gen Xers and Baby Boomers were growing up, it was okay to ignore or even ridicule certain groups of people. Etiquette remains the same; what has changed is the acknowledgment and recognition of those whom society used to push to the margins.
And at the center of this revolution, just like every human revolution, is language.
In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Wertheim joins us to share her expertise in inclusive language and its impact on both personal and professional relationships, how to learn it, use it properly, and correct ourselves when making mistakes. Suzanne Wertheim is a Keynote Speaker, Workshop leader, Anti-bias Consultant, CEO of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, and the Author of "The Inclusive Language Field Guide." She specialized in her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley, in theories of language endangerment, sociolinguistics and linguistic anthropology, and post-Soviet studies.
Throughout our conversation, you'll hear Dr. Suzanne's thoughts on inclusive language and pronoun presentation at the workplace, proper use of language in highly productive environments, and language bias and how it affects communication. You'll also hear about Dr. Suzanne's book and why she decided to write it, why she states that words can cost tons of money, how to address people according to their gender identity, and much more.
Tune in to Episode 407 and learn more about the massive difference little words can make in someone's life.
Some Questions I Ask:
What are the biggest minefields or things that should be more inclusive that you see might trip people up? (7:50)
Why are people putting their pronouns next to their names in their bios, and what's the benefit of it? (17:20)
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
Dr. Suzanne talks about the moment she realized the importance of inclusive language (3:50)
Language is the most complicated skill (10:40)
How do we repair things when we make an inappropriate use of language (21:00)
Dr. Suzanne talks about the link between inclusive language and productivity (23:20)
Connect with Dr. Suzanne:
Get Dr. Suzanne's book, "The Inclusive Language Field Guide"
Becoming Your Best Resources:
Book: Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders
Book: Conquer Anxiety: How to Overcome Anxiety and Optimize Your Performance
Facebook Group – Conquer Anxiety
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