Video
The Insufficiency of Language
Language has its limitations when attempting to accurately convey the ‘unimaginable.” New words and phrases needed to be invented to capture the singularity of the Holocaust experience.
Video Length
03:5Subject
- Social Studies
Language
English — USUpdated
This clip from the documentary Lawrence L. Langer: A Life in Testimony Viewing Guide considers the limitation of language when attempting to accurately convey the ‘unimaginable.” New words and phrases needed to be invented to capture the singularity of the Holocaust experience.
Credit:
Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies Yale University Library
1) Single use only. For use in "Lawrence L. Langer: A Life in Testimony.
Get the Lawrence L. Langer: A Life in Testimony Viewing Guide for resources and discussion questions to use with this video.
Additional Resources
The Weight of Memory
Holocaust scholar Lawrence L. Langer considers the psychological impact on Holocaust survivors when they share testimonies.
Misuse of Holocaust Education
Holocaust scholar Lawrence L. Langer warns educators not to flatten the Holocaust down to an oversimplified morality lesson.
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