© 2026 WRVO Public Media
NPR News for Central New York
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Linguist Reflects On 'Years Of Talking Dangerously'

Linguist Geoff Nunberg is a frequent contributor to <em>Fresh Air</em> and <em>The New York Times</em>.  His past books include <em>Going Nucular</em> and <em>The Way We Talk Now</em>.
Linguist Geoff Nunberg is a frequent contributor to Fresh Air and The New York Times. His past books include Going Nucular and The Way We Talk Now.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg has made a living out of parsing phrases. His new book, The Years of Talking Dangerously, analyzes the buzzwords, stock phrases and metaphors that were made popular during the Bush administration's tenure.

Nunberg's book is a collection of the author's essays and commentaries from Fresh Air, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and other publications. Nunberg is a professor at the School of Information at the University of California Berkeley. His previous books include Going Nucular, Talking Right and The Way We Talk Now.

Copyright 2023 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air.

Recent cuts to federal funding are challenging our mission to serve central and upstate New York with trusted journalism, vital local coverage, and the diverse programming that informs and connects our communities. This is the moment to join our community of supporters and help keep journalists on the ground, asking hard questions that matter to our region.

Stand with public media and make your gift today—not just for yourself, but for all who depend on WRVO as a trusted resource and civic cornerstone in central and upstate New York.