What our words reveal that our actions cannot | Aadi Jhawar | TEDxKings College School

Language chosen by organisations when delivering difficult news can make decisions sound unavoidable, and this talk examines what that wording hides. Drawing on examples from business, medicine and sport, speaker Aadi Jhawar looks at the difference between phrasing meant to protect the listener and phrasing meant to protect the speaker. The talk was given at TEDxKings College School, an independently organised TEDx event, and is shared via TEDx Talks.

• Vocabulary organisations use for difficult announcements
• How inevitable-sounding wording can obscure decisions
• Examples from business, medicine and sport
• Wording that protects the listener versus the speaker

Aadi considers the language organisations reach for when they have something difficult to say, and what is lost when a decision is described in terms that make it sound inevitable. Drawing on examples from business, medicine, and sport, he looks at the difference between wording chosen to protect the listener and wording chosen to protect the speaker. Aadi is a Year 11 pupil at King's College School, Wimbledon, with a particular passion for science and linguistics. He is fascinated by how scientific discovery helps us understand the world, and by how words across different languages shape the way we communicate with, interact with, and respect others. Beyond the classroom, he plays cricket and racquet sports, and nurtures his love of music through the piano and violin. He also follows Formula 1 and enjoys designing and racing model cars. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx