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Julie Sedivy Ph.D.

About

Julie Sedivy earned her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Rochester. She has spent twelve years on the faculty at Brown University's Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, and is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Calgary, where she teaches the language and psychology of persuasion. She is the lead author of the new book Sold on Language: How Advertisers Talk to You and What This Says About You. She is now working on a textbook, The Psychology of Language, and is a regular contributor to the linguistics blog Language Log.

Books by Julie Sedivy Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Politically Correct Animal Language

The editors of the Journal of Animal Ethics have called for re-vamping animal language. So-called negative words like "pets" or "wildlife," they say, should be replaced by "companion animals" and "free-living animals." Could changing the language also change attitudes towards animals?

The editors of the Journal of Animal Ethics have called for re-vamping animal language. So-called negative words like "pets" or "wildlife," they say, should be replaced by "companion animals" and "free-living animals." Could changing the language also change attitudes towards animals?

Do Obama/Osama Slips of the Tongue Reveal Racist Attitudes?

Over the last few days, in the flurry of excited talk about the killing of Osama bin Laden, I’ve heard at least five slips of the tongue in which the name “Osama” was substituted for “Obama.” Do these "Freudian" slips of the tongue reveal racist attitudes equating the U.S. President with dangerous terrorists?

Over the last few days, in the flurry of excited talk about the killing of Osama bin Laden, I’ve heard at least five slips of the tongue in which the name “Osama” was substituted for “Obama.” Do these "Freudian" slips of the tongue reveal racist attitudes equating the U.S. President with dangerous terrorists?

Avant-garde ads: A secret weapon of the right wing?

When befuddled by what seem like nonsensical messages, people tend to launch in hot pursuit of meaning elsewhere—including traditional social structures.

When befuddled by what seem like nonsensical messages, people tend to launch in hot pursuit of meaning elsewhere—including traditional social structures.

Why do politicians sling mud? Because it sticks

We profess to hate negative attack ads in politics. But when it comes to negative campaigning, genteel social norms get some push-back from psychological mechanisms that give dirty politics an edge over keeping it clean.

We profess to hate negative attack ads in politics. But when it comes to negative campaigning, genteel social norms get some push-back from psychological mechanisms that give dirty politics an edge over keeping it clean.

The language of power in the anti-prestige age

We expect broadcasters to have a little bit of linguistic class, and this includes not dropping g's and turning ing into in', pronouncing nuclear as nucular, or seasoning their speech with generous dashes of double negatives. But Presidents, it seems, are an entirely different matter.

We expect broadcasters to have a little bit of linguistic class, and this includes not dropping g's and turning ing into in', pronouncing nuclear as nucular, or seasoning their speech with generous dashes of double negatives. But Presidents, it seems, are an entirely different matter.

An Apple a Day Keeps the PC Away

It's hard to imagine nowadays, but it used to be that when it came time to name a company or a product, someone would just trot out a perfectly sensible, serviceable name like General Motors or International Business Machines. Practical yes, but a bit drab—not to mention possibly missing out on opportunities for linguistic product placement.

It's hard to imagine nowadays, but it used to be that when it came time to name a company or a product, someone would just trot out a perfectly sensible, serviceable name like General Motors or International Business Machines. Practical yes, but a bit drab—not to mention possibly missing out on opportunities for linguistic product placement.

Subliminal seduction gets a second glance

Salacious images in ice cubes? Subliminal commands in movie theaters? Years after the de-bunking of myths of advertising mind control, we're coming to realize that unconscious responses to persuasion are just a part of daily cognition.

Salacious images in ice cubes? Subliminal commands in movie theaters? Years after the de-bunking of myths of advertising mind control, we're coming to realize that unconscious responses to persuasion are just a part of daily cognition.

Would You Like a Frappe with Your Burger?

We often choose consumer products and adopt regional dialects, whether consciously or not, in order to project a certain social identity. With American dialects pulling apart and becoming more distinct from each other, even big corporations like McDonald's want to be part of your in-group.  TV commercials are starting to talk to you in your own accent.

We often choose consumer products and adopt regional dialects, whether consciously or not, in order to project a certain social identity. With American dialects pulling apart and becoming more distinct from each other, even big corporations like McDonald's want to be part of your in-group.  TV commercials are starting to talk to you in your own accent.

The Other Reason Why “iPad” Is a Dumb Name

When Apple unveiled its new tablet computer, you'd think there were no women at the meeting.  Or anyone from Chicago for that matter.  Here's how America's most radical dialect change can cause some serious brand-name confusion.  

When Apple unveiled its new tablet computer, you'd think there were no women at the meeting.  Or anyone from Chicago for that matter.  Here's how America's most radical dialect change can cause some serious brand-name confusion.