Final answer:
Trevor Noah suggests that language can be a key tool in escaping oppression by allowing oppressed groups to reclaim and redefine the language used against them, leading to empowerment and cultural change. Artists and activists have illustrated this potential, and language has evolutionary roots as 'social technology' for cooperation, which can be redirected towards social reform and equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Trevor Noah implies that language serves as a powerful tool not only for communication but also as a means for individuals and groups to escape oppression. By redefining and reclaiming language that has been used to perpetuate stereotypes and suppress identities, oppressed groups can turn the tables on their oppressors and rewrite social narratives. Artists and activists like Kate Chopin, Shirley Jackson, Hillary Clinton, Chrissy Teigen, and Chanel Miller have demonstrated that by taking control of the language used to describe them, they can reshape societal views and empower themselves. Furthermore, by using language to express and share experiences, artists and writers can create a new culture where once oppressed identities can thrive unshackled from past narratives.
Biologist Mark Pagel refers to language as a 'social technology' that, historically, has fostered cooperation amongst humans, hinting at how evolution has shaped language as a tool for unity rather than division. When oppressed groups harness this tool for their purpose, they can begin to dismantle systems of oppression and build new societal frameworks. This empowerment through language is a crucial step towards achieving social reform and equality.