In this episode of the podcast, N.J. Enfield, professor of linguistics at the University of Sydney, joins George Miller to discuss 'What Is Truth For?' — a book that sees truth not as a battlefield but as a shared practice of collaboration, error correction and trust. Together they explore what it takes to keep words and reality aligned when confidence in institutions and expertise is low and misinformation rife.

N. J. Enfield is professor of linguistics at the University of Sydney.

Find out more about the book at: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/trade/what-is-truth-for

The transcript is available here: https://www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2025/11/26/podcast-is-there-snow-on-mount-everest-why-truth-still-matters/

Timestamps:

01:33 - Has there been a shift in 'The Truth' over the last 20 or so years?

05:59 - Can you tell us about the 'Fighting Truth Decay' project?

09:03 - What does a linguist bring to a project like this that's different from other specialists?

13:56 - Is the truth always going to be contingent and to some degree subjective? 

28:58 - What do you make of the apparent loss of credibility accorded to institutions such as universities? 

33:43 - What about people who have very different belief systems from our own?

41:01 - How do you retain your optimism and what would you say to someone so that they don't themselves give up hope?

Intro music:

Cold by yoitrax | @yoitrax

Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com 

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