Matthew Stone, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, USA

Abstract: I critically examine Stojnić and Lepore’s key claim from their book Inflammatory Language that articulations are particularly important to the analysis of slurs. I agree with Stojnić and Lepore that we should endorse the significance of articulations for our linguistic intuitions, especially when it comes to the causal and social powers of language; I argue that for locating this approach to the articulations of slurs in a broader context of fiction and taboos. However, while I accept Stojnić and Lepore’s evidence for theorizing some slurs through associations at the level of articulations, I argue for continuing to account for slurs in part through prohibitions and through associations at the level of words and concepts.

Keywords: Slurs; associations; norms; words; concepts.