The Language of Death and Dying

Death and dying are widely recognized as topics that, if referred to at all, are often referred to indirectly. My goal, then, is to explore how we speak about death and dying, how we think about death and dying, and the relationship between our speaking and thinking. I will begin by exploring death-related language and the distinctjon between literal and figurative references. I will then address the anxiety evoked by thinking about death, in general, and death-related language, in particular.