Sali Tagliamonte

Sali Tagliamonte, a University of Toronto linguist who studies teen speech and language change, talks about being a language detective using her own children as research. She chronicles a 25-year rise of quotatives like "be like." She explores shifting intensifiers such as "very" making a comeback and considers how AI chat might reshape everyday speech.

In this conversation, Dr. James Cohen, an expert on online language practices, delves into 'algospeak,' a creative linguistic response to content moderation. Philip Seargeant, a senior lecturer in Applied Linguistics, critiques the flawed idea of a universal language and discusses the limitations of AI translation. Dr. Sali Tagliamonte reveals how teenage women are at the forefront of language change, driving innovation through social media. Together, they explore the interplay between technology and language, highlighting its dynamic evolution.

Dr. James Cohen and Dr. Sali Tagliamonte discuss the impact of technology on language evolution, including the rise of 'algospeak' as a response to content filters online. They explore the role of young women in driving linguistic changes and the complex dynamics of content moderation on platforms like TikTok.