Convince. Connect. Express. Explain. Denounce. Defend. Impress. Invite. Persuade. Promote.
The right language electrifies the best ideas. It sparks us to listen. It stimulates imagination and helps to power change.
It all comes down to language. (And we know language.)
Chances are you're missing some opportunities to take full advantage of what language can do for you. Tired of talking points making you say the same thing again and again? Ever a little uneasy using what polls say are "words that work" with the public? Sometimes think "values messaging" doesn't go far enough? If you're nodding your head, you're in good company – we hear things like this all the time. And we help.
Real Language LLC is a language and linguistics strategy firm. We're experts with language – and at packing the most effective language with the right meaning for you and your goals. We check every choice from prepositions to pragmatics, from speech acts to sound symbolism, to ensure your language is literally (okay, metaphorically) chock full of what you mean to say.
We hang on your every word.
Whether you've got a public speech or a legal brief, a new brand to name or a national poll to field, a few talking points or a full communications plan, we're here to make sure you get the most out of what language can do. You know what you want to say. We know how to help others hear you better.
Real language is powerful language. It's clear, direct, natural, coherent, focused, consistent, playful at times. And it's authentic. Leveraging the tools of cognitive linguistics, we identify and avoid the counterproductive, clear out the artificial, and neutralize the toxic. We help you strip off these layers of dead weight so that your language can have as much life as your ideas.
Plug us in.
We join your communications team when you need us – for a couple of weeks, for a couple of years – and help you make the most of every language opportunity. We love to elevate, strengthen, amplify, ground, sweeten, sharpen, magnify. Our strength is taking your best existing language and making it even better.
We're your language strategists.
We've been honing our skills with language for well over a decade, working on some of the most challenging issues: talking about inequality, abortion, LGBTQ rights, the environment, sex education, and health care. We've partnered with leading polling and research firms. We've helped big players have an even bigger impact, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood, and the Ford Foundation.
Alyssa Wulf
PARTNER
ALYSSA@REALLANGUAGE.COM
Alyssa is a cognitive linguist who has dedicated her career to understanding language, judgment, empathy, and persuasion. She develops linguistic strategies to support fundamental thinking shifts in areas including reproductive rights and justice, health care, environmental standards, and LGBTQ rights. Alyssa has been a trusted advisor to thought leaders at organizations including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood, the Ford Foundation, and NARAL, and she uses her expertise to draw out innovative language and thinking wherever it emerges. Over the course of her career, she led pioneering work at the Rockridge Institute, co-founded and led strategic analysis at the nonprofit Real Reason, and now co-owns Real Language LLC. Alyssa trained her ear growing up in South Dakota, Iowa, and Western New York and earned her professional credentials at Wesleyan, Gallaudet, and UC Berkeley.
Erik Sahlin
Partner
erik@reallanguage.com
Erik is a political language strategist with a background as a social scientist trained in history, politics, and cognitive linguistics. He has been part of leading efforts to apply cognitive linguistics to political advocacy, starting as Managing Director of the Rockridge Institute think tank, then as a co-founder of the nonprofit Real Reason, and now at Real Language LLC. Working on issues from reproductive rights to health care, Erik has focused on a range of conceptual and language challenges including views of government, understandings of inequality, and perceptions of gender roles. Erik sharpened his political and language instincts while growing up in rural Minnesota, where he first became involved in politics by canvassing in small towns. Educated at Georgetown, Stanford, and UC Berkeley, he also built expertise in international politics and cultures and gained fluency in Mandarin Chinese.
We're here to talk.
Tell us about your specific needs. We make the time for real conversation before any engagement.
Office
Real Language LLC
1300 Clay Street, Suite 600
Oakland, CA 94612
contact@RealLanguage.com
Phone
T (510) 981-2020
F (510) 981-2024