Business, Economics and Finance

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the phrase “thought leader.”

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the trend among corporate giants to change their names to create a new identity.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg considers the language of the stock market.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about the new knowledge fad. He says terms that include the word knowledge, like "knowledge workers" and "knowledge assets" are sweeping corporate and academic America.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg talks about corporate language.

Linguist Geoff Nunberg on the language of downsizing.

Linguist Geoffrey Linguists considers the use of language in the business world. He says its fractured, list-based nature can be traced back to the ever ubiquitous slide presentation software, where narrative holds little sway.

Linguist Geoffrey Nunberg thinks about the many different ways to say "you're fired." (Rerun)

Ellis Island reopens to the public soon. Commentator Maureen Corrigan shares her disappointment that she'll have to pay if she wants her grandparents' names inscribed on the new American Immigrant Wall of Honor.

Commentator Leslie Savan says that American corporations have a vested interest in breaking into Soviet Bloc markets -- and they're spreading their capitalist message through TV ads.