WBAI-FM Upcoming Program
Niteshift

Mon, Apr 6, 2026 10:00 PM

LANGUAGE, POWER & MEANING: WHO CONTROLS THE WORDS CONT

Language, Power, and Meaning, Part 2

What happens when people use words every day… but don’t fully understand what they mean?

In tonight's episode of Niteshift, Mike Sargent, along with with linguist Dr. Kelly Wright,  explore how language shapes perception, politics, and power. From slang to political buzzwords, from “capitalism” to “woke,” this conversation examines how words are often understood through feeling and repetition rather than definition—and how that opens the door to manipulation.

The discussion breaks down the difference between language that comes from lived experience and language that is imposed, reframed, or weaponized in public discourse. Along the way, we explore how economic terms like capitalism and commerce are often conflated, and what it means when certain ideas—like anti-capitalism—exist without a rich vocabulary to support them.

In a media landscape where language is constantly shifting, this episode asks a critical question:
Are we defining our words—or are our words defining us?

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