I talked about linguistic discrimination. And they were such a good audience! Showing outrage in all the right places and asking thoughtful questions. I could see the lightbulbs click on as understanding dawned on them.

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I spoke this evening to a group of 20 people in someone’s home at what was basically a book club but instead of reading stuff, they invite speakers to teach them stuff. It is awesome to speak to non-linguists, especially off-campus. I’ve got to find ways to do that more often!

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So I’m going to pursue more gigs like this. I’m not the most eloquent speaker, but I think I genuinely changed some minds tonight. People confronted their own biases and prejudices and now see concrete ways that they can improve their own and others’ lives. And isn’t that what this is all about?

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The only way I can think of how to do that is to have linguists Trojan horse themselves into various businesses and speaking opportunities like mine today and show people that they are valuable. Educate people one person at a time.

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I learned tonight though that we all should find ways to do more community outreach. If any of the folks in my audience today are in a position to hire a linguistics graduate, they might consider them more than they did before now that they know that we don’t just sit and study languages all day.

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