Essentialization
How imaginary are "imaginary" numbers?
Play videoIn this video the creator discusses how the mathematical concept of imaginary numbers is made extra confusing and strange simply because of their name "imaginary". These numbers, just like negative numbers, do really exist, they're just a little different. The name "imaginary" comes as an insult from French mathematician/philosopher Rene Descartes, who discovered them, and dubbed them imaginary. Since their discovery these numbers have become essential tools in physics, ever present in electronics, and fundamental to the formulation of quantum mechanics. The mathematical study of these numbers and the things you can do with them (complex analysis) has also become a foundational field in mathematics. "imaginary" numbers serve as an excellent showcase for how misnomers impact our societal understanding of the things they incorrectly refer to.
Prisencolinensinainciusol
Play videoA song by Adriano Celentano that is supposed to sound similar to what English sounds like to non-English speakers.
The Speaker-Designed style of Ben Shapiro
Play videoAn explanation of the speaking style of conservative influencer Ben Shapiro, highlighting the extent to which his speech is designed to be inflammatory and manipulative
sign-language interpreter is accused of signing total gibberish
Play video"Another sign-language interpreter is accused of signing total gibberish. This time it was at the police news conference announcing an arrest in the Tampa serial killings. A woman standing off to the side was supposedly translating every word, but it turns out much of what she was signing was nonsense. The woman, identified as Derlyn Roberts, has a string of arrests for fraud. So how did she come to be "translating" at last week's high-profile police news conference? #InsideEdition"
Philosophize This! episode 115
Play videothis is a podcast about the origins of Structuralist philosophy, it takes a look at the contribution Ferdinand de Saussure made to philosophical thought through his work in linguistics and semiology.
Gender Differences in Communication
Play videoAn animated video explained such questions: why men and women communicate differently; how the gender difference affects the communication style, and how gender-based forms of speech lead to miscommunication.
American's Don't Understand English
Play videoThis video is mostly silly and not serious, but it still relates to the concept of essentialism in that the guy is suggesting that a lot of the lexical differences between British and American English are due to Americans' inherently inferior intelligence.
Stephen Fry on language
Play videoHumorist Stephen Fry rants against language mavens and prods us all to enjoy linguistic innovation.
