#Public Engagement

[superlinguo]

Review: How to Talk Language Science with Everybody, Laura Wagner & Cecile McKee

I was delighted to get the chance to review a new book from Laura Wagner & Cecile McKee all about doing lingcomm through hands-on demos and conversations at museums, science fairs and other public events. There's a lot in the book for anyone who wants to start or refine the way they share linguistics with different audiences, particularly those that do face-to-face interactive work.

I have written a full review that is in Language. Below you can read a couple of excerpts from the longer review.

Communicating about linguistics to non-specialist audiences (lingcomm) is a specialist skill set in its own right. Equipping more linguists with these skills is vital if linguistics is going to stake a claim for its relevance to people’s lives as more than a passing curiosity. Until now, this skill set had to be learned mostly through emulation of existing practitioners, online resources and informal networks. Thankfully, Laura Wagner (Ohio State University) and Cecile McKee (University of Arizona) have distilled their extensive experience running lingcomm activities and events into a clear and practical book. How to Talk Language Science with Everyone (Cambridge University Press) illustrates the best of lingcomm practice; it is informed by linguistic research as well as insights from related fields, including psychology, education and anthropology. It also illustrates the best of the lingcomm community more broadly; it is accessible to those new to the practice, encouraging in tone, and passionate about introducing more people to how great linguistics is (a fact taken as given in this book). The closing worksheets of each chapter are a sequence of activities that allow the reader to work towards what the authors call a ‘doable demo’, a well-planned hands-on demo that engages an intended audience in your topic of interest. While the activities in the early chapters are not particularly linked to the chapter topic, as the book builds the activities allow the reader to put the lessons of the chapter to work designing and refining a hands-on demo. The book can make a good classroom resource for anyone lucky enough to be able to run a lingcomm/scicomm subject, but the clear structure of the book means that it can be put to great use in the hands of an individual with time to work through the activities. It would be great to see more people working on short, engaging hands-on demos that capture people’s linguistic imagination (and, as the authors say in the book, sharing them!). Alongside initiatives like 3 Minute Thesis and 5 Minute Linguist, a hands-on demo can be an important part of a linguist’s toolkit for communicating with a range of audiences outside of academia. This book is perfect for you to share with your engaged graduate students or highly-enthusiastic undergraduates.

Thanks to Language for arranging for the review copy!

Wagner, Laura & Cecile McKee. 2023. How to Talk Language Science with Everybody. Cambridge University Press. [Review in Language]

Feeling inspired? For more lingcomm resources visit: https://lingcomm.org/resources/

[writing-with-olive]

How to get someone involved your activism

Adapting this from an infographic I had to make for school when I was a teenager, cause even though it's been years, the information holds up well.

Listen to the other person

Do they respond better to statistics or anecdotes? Adjust your outreach accordingly

Understand if they're more likely to act to avoid a bad thing, or to gain a good thing, and make sure you frame the issue accordingly

Explain how helping with your issue aids them in the priorities they already have

Avoid buzzwords - keep the discussion grounded in what their reality looks like (buzzwords are great for signalling membership within an established base but they are horrible for outreach)

MAJOR ONE: Do not badger someone to do something they're already doing.

Keep it accessible

Avoid using guilt as a motivator - it's not sustainable long-term and people will give up on your movement

Some actions have restrictions like time, money, or mental blocks. Don't pressure people to take actions that they are restricted from

Remember how people process numbers

It's really hard to conceptualize groups of people larger than 500, so keep your examples and analogies small

Similarly, keep a local and personal focus, rather than focus on things happening away from your person, so it's easier for them to conceptualize their impact

If you have to use statistics with big numbers, use analogies to compare those numbers to something smaller

Keep in mind that people have a hard time imagining exponential growth, so if your issue involves exponents, talk about what the effect would be even if a linear track was followed.

Manage your own expectations

Use the "yes and" strategy when engaging performative activists rather than bashing their efforts. You want to get them involved in your movement, not see you as a jerk

Remember that the goal is to get people thinking, so don't be discouraged if you don't make them passionate on your own - it usually takes more than one messenger to do that

[thepastisalreadywritten]

[hobo-pedestrian]

See, the thing is: public meetings are things cities have so they can say they had them, and then go on and do whatever they wanted to do at the start of the process. When people don't like the outcome, the city can say, did you attend the public meeting we had three years ago?

Public meetings are rarely: let's solve a problem! And they are usually: let's make tiny changes to pre-approved options, but not so many changes that they require changes.

Well let's look at this thing

[firstoccupier]

Addressing Modern Threats: The Multifaceted Challenges Facing the USA

By, WPS News Staff Baybay City | February 3, 2025 As we navigate the complex landscape of the 21st century, the United States faces a series of profound and interconnected threats that require vigilant attention and strategic action. Each challenge is intricate in its own right, yet all share common themes of vulnerability and resilience. Understanding these threats in their full context is…

[howdoesone]

How does one train a Kipunji to host a talk show about rare animals?

The Kipunji (Rungwecebus kipunji) is a rare and elusive monkey species found only in the highland forests of Tanzania. With its distinctive appearance and endangered status, the Kipunji presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness about rare animals and conservation efforts. In this imaginative scenario, we’ll explore how one might train a Kipunji to host a talk show focused on rare animals,…

[marwan214]

Lithuania: The European Green Capital of 2025

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Celebrate Lithuania’s rich natural beauty as it takes the spotlight as the European Green Capital of 2025. This Baltic nation is home to protected forests, tranquil lakes, and sandy dunes along the coast. Whether you’re a nature enthusiast or looking for sustainable travel options, Lithuania has something special for you.

Stroll through the quaint streets of Vilnius, explore the Curonian Spit, or unwind in a cozy countryside village. Lithuania’s commitment to sustainability makes it a perfect destination for those looking to travel responsibly.

Excited to explore a greener world? Book your eco-friendly trip with today. 👉 Book Now

[kesarijournal]

Unmasking the Motives: Australia's Social Media Age Ban and Its Implications for Political Discourse

In recent developments, Australia’s major political parties have introduced legislation to ban social media access for individuals under 16, citing child protection as the primary motive. However, a closer examination suggests that these measures may be more about controlling the burgeoning influence of social media on political discourse than safeguarding the youth.The Facade of Child…

[bitcoinversus]

Politics on a Ledger: Elon Musk Wants Complete Transparency in Department of Government Efficiency

Elon Musk has announced that all activities of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will be publicly accessible online to ensure maximum transparency. This initiative aims to provide citizens with real-time insights into the department’s operations and decisions. The DOGE, co-chaired by Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, was recently formed to streamline federal…

[projectchampionz]

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON POLICE INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON POLICE INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS 1.1 Introduction The rise of social media has significantly transformed the way police gather intelligence, respond to incidents, and engage with the public. Platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others provide law enforcement agencies with vast amounts of information that can be used to monitor criminal activities,…

[omegaphilosophia]

Integrating AI to Improve Politics: Opportunities and Challenges

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize various aspects of politics, from enhancing decision-making processes to increasing transparency and engagement. Here are several ways AI can be integrated into politics to bring about improvements:

1. Data Analysis and Decision-Making

AI can analyze large volumes of data to identify trends, patterns, and correlations that human analysts might miss. By leveraging machine learning algorithms, policymakers can make more informed decisions based on empirical evidence and predictive models. For instance, AI can be used to predict the outcomes of different policy options, helping governments to choose the most effective strategies.

2. Enhancing Transparency and Accountability

AI can help increase government transparency and accountability by monitoring and analyzing public spending, detecting anomalies, and identifying potential cases of corruption or misuse of funds. By providing real-time insights into governmental activities, AI can enable citizens to hold their representatives accountable and ensure that public resources are used efficiently.

3. Improving Public Services

AI can streamline public services by automating routine tasks, optimizing resource allocation, and improving service delivery. For example, AI-powered chatbots can provide citizens with instant responses to their inquiries, while AI-driven systems can optimize healthcare, education, and transportation services to better meet the needs of the population.

4. Enhancing Public Engagement

AI can facilitate greater public engagement in the political process by analyzing social media and other online platforms to gauge public opinion, identify key issues, and predict voter behavior. This information can help politicians and policymakers to better understand the concerns of their constituents and to develop policies that reflect the needs and preferences of the public.

5. Combating Misinformation

AI can play a crucial role in identifying and combating misinformation and fake news. By using natural language processing (NLP) algorithms, AI can detect misleading content, verify facts, and provide users with accurate information. This can help to create a more informed electorate and reduce the impact of misinformation on political discourse.

6. Enhancing Security and Cyber Defense

AI can bolster national security and cyber defense by detecting and responding to cyber threats in real-time. Machine learning algorithms can identify unusual patterns of behavior that may indicate a cyber attack and can help to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data from being compromised.

7. Facilitating International Diplomacy

AI can assist in international diplomacy by analyzing geopolitical trends, predicting potential conflicts, and identifying opportunities for cooperation. AI can also support negotiations by providing real-time translation services, summarizing key points, and identifying areas of agreement and disagreement.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While AI has the potential to improve politics in numerous ways, there are also significant challenges and ethical considerations to address:

Bias and Fairness: AI systems can perpetuate or even exacerbate existing biases if they are trained on biased data. Ensuring that AI is fair and unbiased is crucial to its successful integration into politics.

Privacy: The use of AI in politics raises important questions about privacy and data security. Safeguarding citizens' personal information and ensuring that data is used responsibly is essential.

Accountability: Determining accountability for decisions made or influenced by AI can be complex. Establishing clear guidelines and regulations for the use of AI in politics is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.

Public Trust: Building and maintaining public trust in AI-driven political processes is critical. Governments and political entities must be transparent about how AI is used and must demonstrate its benefits to gain public support.

The integration of AI into politics offers significant opportunities for enhancing decision-making, transparency, public engagement, and security. However, it also presents challenges that must be carefully managed to ensure that AI is used ethically and responsibly. By addressing these challenges, AI can become a powerful tool for improving political processes and outcomes, ultimately leading to better governance and a more informed and engaged citizenry.

[airwavesdotblog]

House Decides on Contempt for AG Garland Over Biden Audio Withholding

June 12, 2024 The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt. This action was taken because Garland refused to turn over audio recordings of a special counsel interview with President Joe Biden. The vote passed narrowly, with a 216-207 margin, indicating a party-line division with one Republican joining the Democrats in…

[thepastisalreadywritten]

[writing-with-olive]

So i'm working on a project that involves looking at people's opinions on public transportation, and something that keeps coming up is that a lot of people like the idea of public transportation but ridership is at the same time low, so I wanna figure out what stops people from riding.

If you could reblog this for bigger sample size that would be so so appreciated

[archaeoartist]

TFTH Classical Reception

In this week’s episode, Two Friends Talk History flips the script and I am interviewed by returning guest and expert on sex and gender in antiquity, Dr Briana King. This episode will be part one of an ongoing look at Classical Reception; a field of study that looks at how the ancient world is used in different media today. Our first conversation lays down the foundational context for…

[howdoesone]

How does one help a Kakapo overcome its fear of flying lessons?

The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) is one of the most unique and critically endangered birds in the world. Native to New Zealand, this nocturnal, flightless parrot has captivated the hearts of many due to its charming appearance and endearing personality. Despite its inability to fly, the hypothetical scenario of helping a kakapo overcome a fear of flying lessons offers a creative and engaging way…