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Sold on Language

Written by: Julie Sedivy, Greg Carlson
Narrated by: William Hope
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Publisher's Summary

As citizens of capitalist, free–market societies, we tend to celebrate choice and competition. However, in the 21 st century, as we have gained more and more choices, we have also become greater targets for persuasive messages from advertisers who want to make those choices for us.

In Sold on Language , noted language scientists Julie Sedivy and Greg Carlson examine how rampant competition shapes the ways in which commercial and political advertisers speak to us. In an environment saturated with information, advertising messages attempt to compress as much persuasive power into as small a linguistic space as possible.

These messages, the authors reveal, might take the form of a brand name whose sound evokes a certain impression, a turn of phrase that gently applies peer pressure, or a subtle accent that zeroes in on a target audience. As more and more techniques of persuasion are aimed squarely at the corner of our mind which automatically takes in information without conscious thought or deliberation, does 'endless choice' actually mean the end of true choice?

Sold on Language offers thought–provoking insights into the choices we make as consumers and citizens – and the choices that are increasingly being made for us. For the authors’ blog visit: www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sold–language

©2013 Julie Sedivy & Greg Carlson (P)2013 Audible Ltd

What the critics say

"Students and teachers of persuasion would benefit greatly from reading Sold on Language. Other professionals in communication, marketing, change management, sales, negotiation, and politics will find the examples and techniques of influence to be useful as both best practices to emulate and pitfalls to avoid." (PsycCRITIQUES, 11 January 2012)
"The result is a truly enjoyable, ironic and fresh volume, easy and pleasant to read for any type of audience." (Metapsychology, 15 November 2011)
"This is a well–written, entertaining, and penetrating book on advertisers' ubiquitous attempts at persuasion to influence marketplace behaviour, including the basis for an argument that advertisers are bent on making choices for the consumer. . . Highly recommended. Upper–division undergraduates through professionals/practitioners; consumers, general readers." (Choice, 1 October 2011) "I

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