October 23, 2004
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How to Talk Like a Conservative (If You Must)
The left’s linguistics guru says liberals have to watch their language.
October 18, 2004
George Lakoff. Lakoff, a professor at the University of California is trying to teach liberals what conservatives have known for years: the skill of defining, or “framing,” issues in a way that makes it next to impossible for the other side to contradict you.
By consciously and cleverly framing the terms used in the debate, you define the debate itself. “Clear Skies” and “partial-birth abortion” aren’t just catchphrases; they’re brilliantly self-contained arguments.
According to Lakoff, conservatives subscribe to a “strict father” model that emphasizes discipline, self-interest, and competition.
On the other side, liberals believe in a “nurturant parent” model with an emphasis on empathy, community, and fairness.
Lakoff says liberals must reframe every issue from tax cuts to the war on terror. For instance, Lakoff has recommended replacing the loaded phrase “trial lawyer” with “public protection lawyer.”
Lakoff recently published Don’t Think of an Elephant: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate,
--INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE LAKOFF--
Comments (1)
Sounds like a good idea to me.
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