Race and Language (60)

Dave Shepherd and Howard Chang welcome a voicemail on the Nerd Number from Hillary Israeli, on modern Hebrew as an invented language. (2:06)

Dave and Howard discuss racial labels and epithets, and the boundaries of acceptability. (4:35)

Music bumper from “Nada” by Jaime Beauchamp (16:24)

Race and identity: what is “race”? (17:01)

Song: “Black Madonna,” by Sophia Ramos (25:54)

Rude word of the week: “halfbreed” (29:06)

Music bumper from “Meant to Be” by Rob Costlow (31:52)

Race, ethnicity, and diversity in American English (32:29)

The legal language of race and ethnicity (33:43)

Ethnic labels as names for sports teams (35:00)

Music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network

Theme music by Kick the Cat

Closing music from “Grapes” by Evan Stone

time: 39:57
size: 27.4 Mb

rating: R (We explore many aspects of race and speech, including many of the most hurtful and belittling racial epithets in modern American English.)

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2 Responses to “Race and Language (60)”


  1. 1 Daniel Watkins

    Could the reason that ‘redneck’ is more acceptable than the n-word (to take two examples) be that a ‘redneck’ will only be used to refer to someone who maybe has done something to deserve the label, whereas ‘people of colour’ (barring Michael Jackson) do not choose to be ‘of colour’.

    Essentially, ‘redneck’ is based on behaviour (which people can change) whereas the n-word is based on someone’s colour (which (most) people are unable to choose).

    I apologise if I’ve said anything insulting, it is not intended.

  2. 2 Tristan

    I’d have to call Modern Hebrew a revitalized language. Not an invented langauge.

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