I don't dispute that there's a theory of change here: "if we explore the linguis...

roughly · on March 2, 2023

That's not the theory of change at play here. You're rejecting a straw man.

As to the rest of it: "Officer, arrest that man" is a series of incantations that affect the material world.

scarmig · on March 2, 2023

I can say that right now, and nothing happens. The words aren't the causal elements here changing the world; it's the referants and power hierarchies that do.

The proper analogy would be thinking that requiring saying "Officer, detain-in-an-official-capacity that man!" instead would somehow fix police violence.

roughly · on March 2, 2023

> I can say that right now, and nothing happens. The words aren't the causal elements here changing the world; it's the referants and power hierarchies that do.

And you think this is something that’s not understood among those pushing for linguistics changes?

jimbokun · on March 3, 2023

I think that.

I think those people distract and soothe themselves from their inability to enact change with linguistic games.