An Illustrated Book of Loaded Language, is the unsaid, muddied truth

The vast majority of people muddle on purpose or accidentally, twist their day-to-day communication. Sometimes it’s quite innocuous, it’s those other times when people or organizations leave things unsaid or pepper their language with certain phrases that make things opaque. An Illustrated Book of Loaded Language is a book that looks at euphemisms, spin, bias, or things that are not said in arguments, in order to persuade people. It’s a very smart book that logic-based people will love reading. The subtitle is Learn To Hear What’s Left Unsaid, and if you can hear the opinions or direction that a conversation is trying to lead you in then this book will speak to you. 

Having said that; Loaded Language is even more for those who aren’t able to perceive small shifts in language. There are all manner of triggering words, dog whistles, phrases, and loopholes that people on the left and right use to support those who think as they do. Likewise, there are also examples of how news stories for both sides omit certain things, in order to keep those who think in that manner from straying too far.  This is a book that will frustrate you, question your thoughts, as well as how you present your arguments and make you think.

The amazing thing about Loaded Languages is that it doesn’t overtly take a position on any argument or political stance. It’s a book about the precision of the English language and how people or organizations phrase their points. The apolitical stance is further brought home by the fact that the real-world examples that are listed in the book have been sanitized, for the most part, by replacing the key players with rabbits and badgers.

Badger under fire for allegedly using anti-rabbit slur during interview with radio host. Sturgeon General says Rabbit Administrations will be “transparent and honest” on COVID, Unlike Badger Regime. They are two examples of headlines that the gatekeepers on both sides of the political divide could see themselves approving of, depending on who is in charge at the point in time.

One reason that Loaded Language resonated with me is that I used to write copy for various organizations. The presentation is key in getting your message across, and any clever organization, be it a news-oriented one or a non-profit that’s seeking financial support is wary of how they sound regardless of the perspective. That’s true, but they also want to sing to the choir and that’s why in a perfect world, An Illustrated Book of Loaded Language is something that every newsroom, reporter’s desk, and ELA classroom would have right beside the AP Style Guide. Granted classrooms don’t have the later book and that’s partially the point to its existence.

Learn to Hear What’s Left Unsaid, the subtitle of the book is the absence of what you hear in any news report or a classroom essay on chocolate milk. If you’ve ever written something then on purpose or by accident you’ve tried to shape the narrative. Loaded Language accomplishes this by using allegories and removing the go-to group that most would associate with their actions. The result is a book that will hopefully make you realize the bias and presuppositions that you use, as well as realize when someone is trying to use you. It’s the actualization that verbal jujutsu has been being used on you, whether you were aware of it or not. Don’t be angry, you’re doing it too.

This is a book on learning how to communicate in a crystal clear manner. Alternately, it’s a book on how to intentionally steer people towards your way of thinking. The rub is that if your audience is aware of loaded language, then they’ll have the Rosetta Stone in figuring out the ulterior motive that’s as obvious as a child who’s saying that they really brushed their teeth.

So, who is Loaded Language appropriate for? This is a book that does require readers to have a base knowledge of world events, as well as, reasons why certain sides would want to skew things in their direction. While middle school readers would certainly be able to read Loaded Language, they can’t put the methods or practice into use. Those high school readers will be able to use the tactics in the book and sound like the smartest ones in the room. But, let’s think higher to those college-age folks or business professionals and for one reason or another, this is a book that’s best meant for them. 

The ironic part of this is that many segments of that population won’t want to read it. That’s because they’re firmly camped out in their area with their rose-colored glasses, and that’s OK. You business people, scientists, teachers, and leaders need to read this. It’d be glib to say that An Illustrated Book of Loaded Language is for the thinkers in the room, but then that would be loaded language. Instead, let’s just say that this is a book that could challenge some folks in how they present arguments, enforce others when they present things and make others peek past the veil of supposed objectivity.

An Illustrated Book of Loaded Language, Learn To Hear What’s Left Unsaid is by Ali Almossawi and available on The Experiment, an imprint of Workman Publishing.

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