Conscious Language and the Power of Words with Alex Kapitan, the Radical Copyeditor
Presented by: Alex Kapitan
Moderator: Sarah Peterson
Host: Erica Akiko Howard
Language has power. As editors, it's a common perception that our job is to make language "correct" and/or "neutral." But ultimately there's no such thing as objectively correct or neutral language, because all language is deeply contextual and communicates cultural values and norms, whether we are aware of it or not. Rather than a simple checklist of "good" and "bad" words, conscious language is a holistic approach that centers care for everyone who engages with our words. In this presentation and discussion, radical copyeditor and conscious language consultant Alex Kapitan will discuss the power of language to do harm and share concrete conscious language practices that can help us use words for good.
Alex Kapitan is a queer and trans trainer, speaker, consultant, editor, and activist who left the world of non-fiction book publishing to start Radical Copyeditor, an anti-oppressive language project. Alex works with clients as varied as publishing companies, academic journals, activist organizations, and museums, helping people align their words with their values with regard to race, class, dis/ability, sexuality, gender, religion, and more, rooted in the idea that because words describe and create reality, we have a responsibility to describe and create the best possible reality we can imagine.