Where Are the Humans? The Language of Economic Insecurity
Many people compare and contrast the Great Depression with our current economic troubles, to gain some perspective and perhaps find solutions from past experience. But the words used to describe our plight today almost sound like a different language. During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt looked for solutions that would place “the security of the […]
Word Inflation: Amazing, epic, disruptive innovation
I’m mixing metaphors, but many communicators in the U.S. (Sorry, I don’t get to read Der Spiegel or Paris Match), are getting out of hand – and way over the top – with word inflation. If every product change or new idea is amazing, epic, and disruptive, what happens when something really significant takes place? […]
Prisoners of the Metaphor
Metaphors matter. In a study of women who were about to give birth, the mothers-to-be were told to expect a local anesthesia before receiving an epidural. Nurses told one group they were going to get “a local anesthetic that will numb the area so you will be comfortable during the procedure.” Another group was told, […]