Hostile language -- often called verbal abuse -- is one of the worst problems people face today. Hostile language is as dangerous to health and well-being as toxic waste, not only because of its own destructive nature but because it so often escalates into physical violence. The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense is a system developed by Suzette for establishing a language environment in which hostile language interactions almost never happen, and in which -- when they truly cannot be avoided -- they are handled efficiently, effectively, and with no loss of face on either side. Physical violence requires the intervention of law enforcement officers, medical professionals, and other outside "experts"; while violence is still verbal, every single one of us can learn to defuse it and handle it with skill. GAVSD is a simple and practical set of methods and techniques designed specifically for that purpose.