Ability Quote by Steven Pinker
“It's likely that taboo words are stored in the right hemisphere of the brain. Massive left hemisphere strokes or the entire surgical removal of the left hemisphere can leave people with no articulate speech other than the ability to swear, spout cliches and song lyrics.”
About This Quote
Right hemisphere may store taboo language; left hemisphere damage can leave speech limited to swearing and clichés.
In simple terms: Brain halves handle different speech functions.
Key Takeaway
Know brain lateralization.
Themes
neuroscience
language
psychology
Mood
scientific
curious
Type
educational
informative
When to use this quote
- rehabilitation
- speech therapy
- neuropsychology
- education
- research
Key Concepts
Lateralization
cognitive neurology
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this reveal about language control?
- How might therapy target these pathways?
A Different Perspective
Not all taboo words are right‑hemisphere exclusive.
![“Feminism is still one of those taboo words, so hardly anybody talks about it. People usually go gender-neutral and say the book and film [Room] are about "the triumph of the human spirit.” quote by Emma Donoghue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8a1/emma-donoghue-1499_book_feminism-is-still-one-of-those-taboo-wor_2879181.jpg)
