S03E20 Exaggerated Language - Why everything is always over the top
In this episode, I explore the habit we have of using hyperbole and exaggerated language to communicate with others and what this means, how to handle it and why it matters.
WHY WE SPEAK OVER THE TOP
Negative Bias (negativity holds our attention)
Salience Effect (emotions hold our attention)
Drama Bias (dramatic holds our attention)
We need to because:
Social Media Competition
The Language of the Media
Social and Habitual Language
How we speak over the top:
Exaggeration and Hyperbole
Generalizations
Labeling
Polarizing Language (outsider vs insider language)
Loaded or Emotional Language
HOW TO COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT EXAGGERATED LANGUAGE
Find a new, meaningful way to say it
Find the right time and context to say it
Embrace the power of a scarce and deliberately used word
Use the power of contrast to emphasize
HOW TO HANDLE THE EXAGGERATED WORLD
Separate fact from emotion
Separate fact from hyperbole
Rephrase in a non-exaggerated way
Get them to deliberately add in exaggeration