Why are bribes, requests, seductions, solicitations and threats commonly veiled with implicit language instead of explicit language? How do people use words to help convey content in its most literal form, while at the same time asking someone to read between the lines in certain situations? Cognitive scientist and linguist Steven Pinker gave a fascinating animated lecture at the RSA earlier this year on how we commonly use passive language in order to gain trust or build relationships. Pinker uses several thought exercises to get one’s mind wrapped around the science of linguistics, and how we often manipulate language in our everyday lives.
Steven Pinker: Language as a Window into Human Nature from The RSA on FORA.tv
Watch Steven Pinker: Language as a Window into Human Nature on demand at FORA.tv.