What is it about?
This article examines why Cathy Newman's 2018 interview with Jordan Peterson sparked backlash, focusing on her repeated use of "So you're saying..." which seemed to misrepresent him and challenge his credibility, leading to strong viewer reactions.
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Why is it important?
The article sheds light on how specific communication tactics, like Cathy Newman's repeated use of "So you're saying...", contributed to public backlash during her interview with Jordan Peterson. Using Goffman's concept of Facework, it shows how these moments acted as subtle attacks on Peterson's social image, helping us better understand how language can escalate tension and shape media controversies.
Perspectives
From my perspective, the Cathy Newman–Jordan Peterson interview is best understood not just as a disagreement over ideas, but as a series of subtle social challenges. Drawing on Goffman’s concept of Face and Facework, I see Newman's repeated use of "So you're saying..." as more than a framing device—it functions as a form of Face aggression, undermining Peterson's social image. I find Goffman’s approach more suitable than Brown and Levinson’s politeness theory because it accounts for both respectful and aggressive communicative strategies. This allows for a more complete understanding of how conflict unfolds in high-pressure interviews like this one.
Dr Barry Pennock-Speck
Universitat de Valencia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: "So you're saying": the interrogation of Jordan Peterson, Revista de Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas, July 2021, Universitat Politecnica de Valencia,
DOI: 10.4995/rlyla.2021.14618.
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