In other words
Jun 6, 2026 · 51 min · 6 segments
In the previous episode, Elizabeth Loftus reminded us that a single word can influence what people remember. In this episode, we take a deep dive into language and translation. The conversation…
In the previous episode, Elizabeth Loftus reminded us that a single word can influence what people remember. In this episode, we take a deep dive into language and translation. The conversation begins with Steven Verheyen (Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands), who leads the translation effort in our international replication project. We discuss the practical challenges of translating research materials into multiple languages, but also the deeper theoretical questions that emerge in the process. How do you translate words such as *hit* and *smashed*? Are we translating words, meanings, or psychological effects? And why should translation be viewed as a genuine scientific contribution rather than a purely technical task? In the second half of the episode, Rolf talks with linguist Maha Godoy (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil). Together they discuss the Loftus and Palmer study from a linguistic perspective and explore what language can tell us about the mechanisms underlying the misinformation effect. The conversation also turns to the experience of conducting research in Brazil and the similarities and differences between scientific cultures across countries. A recurring theme throughout the episode is that language is not merely a vehicle for communicating research. In a study like Loftus and Palmer, language is part of the phenomenon itself. If a single word can influence memory, then translating that word becomes a scientific challenge in its own right. As the project expands across countries and languages, questions that initially seem practical often reveal deeper theoretical issues. In that sense, translation is not simply something that happens before the research begins—it is one of the ways we learn from the research itself. Further reading On translation in big team science projects: translation – Psychological Science Accelerator. On crediting translators: Contributors | FORRT - Framework for Open and Reproducible Research Training. On iconicity in language: Winter, B., Woodin, G., & Perlman, M. (preprint). Defining Iconicity for the Cognitive Sciences. Music written and played by Rolf Zwaan * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the previous episode, Elizabeth Loftus reminded us that a single word can influence what people remember. In this episode, we take a deep dive into language and translation. The conversation…
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