Book summary

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg analyzes the language politics of left and right in America, and concludes that conservatives have won hands-down. He shows example after example where "the right's linguistic dominance" has set the terms of the debate and performed end-runs around the left. Conservatives virtually own terms such as "values," "freedom," and "culture of life"; liberals are associated with awkward catchwords such as "lock-box" and are stereotypically defined by what they either drive or eat: Volvos and sushi. Nunberg is known to NPR listeners for his features on language, and for his previous book GOING NUCULAR.