The Language And Political Discourse Essay - 1826 Words

The language and political discourse our society is exposed to by our leaders and our media shapes the divisiveness of our national landscape limiting the growth of an individual and expanding the influence of intolerance. Figures within the media and who hold public office have an obligation to dutifully and honestly serve the greater interest of the public in their position of power. Those who hold a position of influence owe their service to those they serve. As Plato emphasizes, those who hold power are â€Å"†¦to go down again among those bondsmen and share their labours and honours, whether they are of less or greater worth† (Plato 141). Power may come with a sense of arrogance. Yet, as Plato notes, even if the worth of a leader is greater, their value is irrelevant. A leader must serve those who trust in their guidance, and understand their value and their struggles. They must also walk among those whom they serve and be one of them. It is not enough to observe; a leader in our media or government should understand them on a fundamental level that will allow them to serve the interests of the greater society. There should be no ulterior motive to serving the public. In the Allegory o f the cave Plato also remarks on how a government should be set up so â€Å"†¦ those who are to rule are least eager to hold office must needs be administered,† (Plato 143). Someone who craves power lacks the virtue necessary to qualify to hold a powerful position, at least theoretically. TheShow MoreRelatedLanguage As The Primary Source Of Political Discourse And Hegemony1244 Words   |  5 PagesEvaluating the text from a Structuralist perspective reveals language as the primary source of political discourse and hegemony. In 1984, language is both an instrument and an effect of power. Michel Foucault’s discursive practices suggest that discourse â€Å"transmits and produces power† (Foucault, 1980). It has the capacity to govern social interactions, limit the parameters of human thought and endorse political ideologies. Structuralist Jonathan Culler corroborates Foucault’s assertion in his bookRead MoreAgglomeration Of New Caledonia718 Words   |à ‚  3 PagesPolitical debates usually focus on mobilising the other side to commit to a preferred course of action, thereby not only ignoring an apparent opposition in ideological viewpoints, but also the fact that sharing a common official language and common institutions does not necessarily entail a consensus on the issue at hand. As a sui generis collectivity in the Pacific, New Caledonia is currently involved in a decisive debate on self-determination with one of the most powerful former colonising nationsRead MoreCritical Discourse Analysis1347 Words   |  6 Pages2.1. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA): 2.1.1. What is CDA? 2.1.1.1. Critical, discourse and analysis Before beginning to address what CDA is, it is important to be clear about what is meant by the concepts of critical, discourse, and analysis: The notion of ‘critical’ is primarily associated with the critical theory of the Frankfurt School where social theory should be oriented towards critiquing and changing society. In CDA, the concept of ‘critical’ is appliedRead MoreCritical Discourse Analysis ( Cda )1507 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is an interdisciplinary approach, which has been further developed on the basis of Discourse Analysis (DA) since 1970s. The insights have been expanded into a broader range of social, cultural, psychological and political practices. It is regarded as the textual study aiming to elucidate the abuses of power residing in the texts by analyzing linguistic/semiotic remarks in accordance with the existing (social, political, cultural, etc.) contexts in which those textsRead MoreHow Discourse Is Used For Power And Knowledge, And For Resistance And Critique1203 Words   |  5 PagesDiscourse is a broad term with various definitions which â€Å"integrates a whole palette of meanings† (Titscher et al., 2000, p.42), covering a large area from linguistics, through sociology, philosophy and other disciplines. According to Faircl ough (1989) the term refers to â€Å"the whole process of interaction of which a text is just a part† (Fairclough, 1989, p.24). As pervasive ways of experiencing the world, discourses refer to expressing oneself using words. Discourses can be used for asserting powerRead MoreLanguage As A Monitor Social Reality766 Words   |  4 PagesLanguage as a Monitor to Social Reality Different societies and cultures are strictly shaped and expressed by their own multiple languages. What’s more, many languages were born from the same linguistic branches, but â€Å"no two languages are actually similar to be considered as representing the same social reality† (Kramsch, 2014, p. 32). Applied linguistic research has concluded three categories to explicitly expose the relations between languages and realities: â€Å"semiotic relativity, linguistic relativityRead MoreCritical Discourse Analysis1510 Words   |  7 PagesCritical Discourse Analysis Social communication is increasingly becoming a subject of scientists’ discussions from different disciplines, as well as ordinary language users.  In contemporary social sciences, especially in linguistics, we see a clear shift to discourse.  Discourse allows us to talk about use of the language, as well as the language as a socio-cultural activity.  In this sense, discourse, on one hand, reflects the social reality, on the other hand, it shapes it, therefore participateRead MoreThe Concept Of Abductive Methodology786 Words   |  4 Pagesalso suggest possible hypothesis while analyzing the data available. Discourse analysis is a framework used to analyze written, vocal, or sign language. (Yatsko V.A, Integrational discourse analysis conception). Discourse analysis does not presuppose a bias towards the study of either spoken or written language (Stef Slembrouck as cited in Whittaker, O’Donnell, Hidalgo). Discourse is the conventional idea that writing and language is planned according to different patterns that people’s statementsRead MoreThe Representation Of Refugees Through A Political And Media Discourse1168 Words   |  5 Pageswithin different discourses. Foucault’s defines discourse as the rules and practices that produce meaningful statements about a topic at a particular historical moment. He argues that it ‘constricts the topic’. (Hall, 1997, p.44). This essay will analyse the representation of refugees through a political and media discourse. A political discourse on refugees is explored in Rocco Fazzari and Denis Carnahan’s video à ¢â‚¬ËœStop the Boats (with cash) Tony’. The video highlights the political language for talkingRead MoreThomas Hobbes And Nicholas Machiavelli Essay1481 Words   |  6 Pageswherein man is not depraved and fallen — but is rather able to create. In effect, these idealist exalted man’s abilities rather than man’s depravity and banishment from the garden of eden. Machiavelli acknowledged that the practice of creating a political order in time meant only temporal glory is attainable, for fortuna will always win. Nonetheless, the heretical optimism of humanism created more problems than resolutions; creating stasis in chaos, time, change, creating a novel type of ethics, placing