Verbal behavior is, of course, frequently punished. The community which has hitherto reinforced a response may change its practices. A different community is more likely to punish—possibly with all the manifestations of “zenoglottophobia.”
B. F. Skinner - Verbal Behavior
A word similar to Skinner's zenoglottophobia is xenoglossophobia with a related meaning.
Foreign language anxiety, also known as xenoglossophobia, is the feeling of unease, worry, nervousness and apprehension experienced in learning or using a second or foreign language.
Skinner's zenoglottophobia is a word he may have invented, but it has a familiar meaning - fear of language from another verbal community with an associated possibility of punishment.
Skinner's zenoglottophobia is a word he may have invented, but it has a familiar meaning - fear of language from another verbal community with an associated possibility of punishment.
Zenoglottophobia pretty well describes woke culture, cancel culture, internet censorship and the language games driving modern politics. Activists corrupting almost every debate by corrupting the language and promoting a kind of free speech phobia. It's something we observe - many people are afraid of free speech and the associated possibility of punishment.
It seems to be one reason why mainstream political parties are so unwilling to tackle even the most deranged and divisive language games. They are attracted to politically exploitable fears – it’s what they do. There are no exploitable fears in free speech.
4 comments:
I think the most insidious aspect is the way traps are laid by defining certain terms or expressions as being punishable, and then not explaining the rules to those who will spring them. I remember one poor old dear at work who was in agonies of anxiety over using the word "coloured".
Sam - yes that's one of the horrible aspects of it, the poor old dear in agonies of anxiety about language. Innocent folk who dare not even express their dismay at what is being done to their world by creeps and degenerates.
Can you wrongfoot the buggers by making up your own expressions? What would they make of "transsexualite person of hue"?
Or if one of 'em claims to be traumatised can you say "No, you are only overwrought, dear"?
If I were still teaching and one of 'em demanded a "safe space" I think I might recommend the mysterious cave in Royston.
https://www.roystoncave.co.uk
Or even this cubby hole: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57304921
dearieme - it could come to making up our own expressions. A list of safe spaces would be useful too. We have a number in Derbyshire, such as this one -
https://peakcavern.co.uk/
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