Linguist George Lakoff Decodes Trump's 'Yuuuge' Political Wins

51:40

Michael Krasny

Jul 28, 2016 at

Save Article

Failed to save article

Please try again

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during the final night of the Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, July 21, 2016. (RobynBeck/AFP/Getty Images)

As Donald Trump officially accepted the Republican presidential nomination last Thursday, many Americans were left wondering how the outspoken businessman who has never held an elected office managed to be a presidential frontrunner. Cognitive linguist George Lakoff sees Trump’s rise as anything but surprising, especially when one considers the candidate’s approach to political speech. We talk to Lakoff to get his thoughts on Trump, this year’s Democratic National Convention and the implications of the language being used on this election’s political stage.

Guests:

George Lakoff, professor emeritus of cognitive science and linguistics, University of California at Berkeley

Sponsored

lower waypoint

next waypoint

First Trump Criminal Trial Underway in New York The Beauty in Finding ‘Other People’s Words’ in Your Own What the 99 Cents Only Stores Closure Means to Californians Bay Area Diaspora Closely Watching India’s Upcoming Election are u addicted to ur phone José Vadi’s “Chipped” Looks at Life from a Skateboarder’s Lens ‘The Notorious PhD’ on How Hip Hop Made America San Francisco Voters Face a Crowded and Contentious Mayor’s Race Who Is Responsible For One of the Largest Internet Hacks Ever?So You Want to Be a DJ?