--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: possible topics around which the currents…" description: "\"“possible topics around which the currents of speech may flow: Death and the danger of death: violence, fighting, sickness, fear, dreams, premonitions ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/william-labov-38600_communication_possible-topics-around-which-the-current_530474.jpg" --- # possible topics around which the currents of speech may… ![“possible topics around which the currents of speech may flow: Death and the danger of death: violence, fighting, sickness, fear, dreams, premonitions and communication with the dead. Sex and relations between the sexes: dating, courtship, proposals, marriage, breaking off relationships, affairs…” quote by William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/william-labov-38600_communication_possible-topics-around-which-the-current_530474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/william-labov-38600_communication_possible-topics-around-which-the-current_530474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/855/william-labov-38600_communication_possible-topics-around-which-the-current_530474.jpg) > ““possible topics around which the currents of speech may flow: Death and the danger of death: violence, fighting, sickness, fear, dreams, premonitions and communication with the dead. Sex and relations between the sexes: dating, courtship, proposals, marriage, breaking off relationships, affairs, intermarriage. Moral indignation: assignment and rejection of blame, unfairness, injustice, gossip, violations of social norms.”” [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote lists broad thematic domains that dominate human conversation, from mortality and conflict to sexuality and moral judgment, highlighting how language organizes experience. **In simple terms:** Human talk clusters around death, sex, and morality. Key Takeaway Recognize recurring topics in dialogue. Themes communication culture psychology Mood analytical curious Type observational theoretical When to use this quote - journalism - therapy - creative writing - conflict resolution - relationship counseling Key Concepts sociolinguistics thematic analysis Questions to Reflect On - Which topic shapes your daily conversations most? - How do cultural norms influence which topics are discussed? A Different Perspective These categories may oversimplify nuanced personal narratives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Possible Topics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possible-topics-4457447/) [Relations Sexes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relations-sexes-1400622/) [Sex Relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-relations-2104149/) [Sexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sexuality/) [Social norms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-norms/) [Topics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/topics/) ## Related quotes > [Let nature decide. When a cow is biologically ready to have sex relations, she mates with the nearest well-hung bull. 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Although the American Psychiatric Association (APA) no longer uses this term, much of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kirkconnell/let-s-take-a-quick-look-at-what-a-psychopath-is-although-the-american/) [Robert Kirkconnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kirkconnell/) ## More by William Labov > [And instead of getting a pepper-and-salt effect, we find very clear and sharp divisions between the dialects of the United States, which are getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/and-instead-of-getting-a-pepper-and-salt-effect-we-find-very-clear/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [I have resisted the term sociolinguistics for many years, since it implies that there can be a successful linguistic theory or practice which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/i-have-resisted-the-term-sociolinguistics-for-many-years-since-it/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [Well, American dialects have been studied for a hundred years or so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/well-american-dialects-have-been-studied-for-a-hundred-years-or-so/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [It appears that the present-day form of African American English is not the inheritance of the period of slavery, but the creation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/it-appears-that-the-present-day-form-of-african-american-english-is/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [However, research in the years that followed found that in many of its important features, African American Vernacular English was becoming not less, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/however-research-in-the-years-that-followed-found-that-in-many-of-its/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [I am now completing research supported by NSF and NEH that is mapping changes in the English language through all of North America, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/i-am-now-completing-research-supported-by-nsf-and-neh-that-is-mapping/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [We focus upon pairs of words very often which are the same in some areas and different in other areas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/we-focus-upon-pairs-of-words-very-often-which-are-the-same-in-some/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [An important aspect of the current situation is the strong social reaction against suggestions that the home language of African American children be used…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/an-important-aspect-of-the-current-situation-is-the-strong-social/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [But unlike European countries, America has never finished a map of the United States, only the eastern United States is covered and a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/but-unlike-european-countries-america-has-never-finished-a-map-of-the/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) > [This African American Vernacular English shares most of its grammar and vocabulary with other dialects of English. But it is distinct in many ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-labov/this-african-american-vernacular-english-shares-most-of-its-grammar/) [William Labov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) [Explore all 11 William Labov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-labov/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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