3. Dezember 2025 – fbs (youtube)
Today, we, Florence & Bettina, will explore a phenomenon that seems to be accelerating across many areas of society: linguistic erosion.
We can observe it in everyday conversations, organisations, media – and even in the way technology proposes alternative words for us.
Little by little, certain behaviours, actions or realities are no longer clearly named. Instead, they are softened, reframed or wrapped in gentle euphemisms. Sometimes intentionally, sometimes simply through algorithm. Terms such as “racism” in a workplace context (e.g. in recruitment) may quietly shift into phrases like “cultural mismatch”, “poor fit” or “not aligned with our values”. “Exclusion” becomes “underrepresentation” or “limited access”. When language becomes gentler, the meaning often becomes gentler too – and with it, our emotional connection to what is actually happening. Linguistic erosion does not just reshape our vocabulary; it subtly adjusts our collective sense of reality.
I, Florence bring a rich lived perspective to this conversation, especially around experiences of racism. I have often encountered situations where behaviour that clearly had an impact on her was reframed by others as a “misstep”, “misunderstanding” or “insecurity”. The terminology may soften, but the experience does not.
And this shift in language is happening fast. Words like “trauma” turn into “negative experiences”, and “erasure” becomes “simplification” or “adaptation”.
Which other expressions have you noticed that soften the original meaning – and perhaps unintentionally shield those responsible for certain behaviours?
More about Bettina Andresen Guimarães: https://www.authenticwow.com/bettina-a-g/