<i>Language and conflict – Selected issues</i> Karol Janicki (2015) London and New York: Palgrave and Macmillan. Pp. xiii + 228. ISBN 978-1-137-38140-8

Abstract

Language and conflict - Selected issues Karol Janicki (2015) London and New York: Palgrave and Macmillan. Pp. xiii + 228. ISBN 978-1-137-38140-8Reviewed by Beatriz ChristinoProfessor at the Department of Foreign Languages of the University of Bergen (Norway), where he has developed the research project 'The language of peace and non-aggression', author of Language misconceived - Arguing for applied cognitive sociolinguistics (2006) and Confusing discourse (2010), Karol Janicki has produced an admirable work with his new book, Language and conflict - Selected issues (2015). Being a well-founded analysis also accessible to the general public (as well as undergraduate students), this volume tackles a central question of linguistic fields like pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and applied linguistics, addressing almost everyone's experience: 'What roles do language and communication play in conflicts?' (p. x).Defined by its author as devoted to 'micro questions' such as 'how the use of certain words or grammatical constructions may allow us to manipulate people, how it may arouse emotions, or how it may lead to unintended confrontation' (p. 5, italics as in the original), the book assumes an enlightening perspective of inquiry on language use. Furthermore, it establishes a dialogue not only with works written by influential linguists (e.g., Lakoff, Fillmore, and Hymes), but also with those produced by other scientists such as Leonard Mlodinow and those belonging to a long philosophical tradition, discussing positions of, among others, Plato, Spinoza, Locke, Schopenhauer, and Voltaire.Its structure is, to a significant degree, responsible for this combination of a work most worthy of respect and a useful guide for whoever is interested in avoiding conflicts by enhancing his/her own linguistic awareness. Each of the volume's eight chapters contains a real story (most of them experienced by the author himself) that works as a meaningful and tangible illustration of the key concepts, followed by a section entitled 'Summary and practical advice'. Readers searching for more information about specific issues can count on the 'Suggestions for further reading' which close each chapter. In addition to that, a two-page glossary (pp. 203-204) clarifies the terminology that may appear challenging to non-specialists.The first chapter deals with the widespread misconception that words and their referents in the real world have a 'natural' connection. As the author demonstrates, it is crucial not to forget that 'words activate concepts in the mind' (p. 16) and that this operation inevitably leads to a different result for each individual since personal experiences diverge. Particularly evident in the very common borderline of non-typical cases and fuzzy situations - which encompass highly abstract concepts - this complex process receives attention throughout this book. In fact, a main idea of this chapter (recurrently reaffirmed and complemented in the following ones) is that 'When we differ and are not aware of it, things may easily go wrong. When we differ and are aware of it, and possibly discuss the differences, we are less likely to get involved in conflict' (p. 16).Describing more precisely the activation of concepts in the human mind corresponds to the topic of the second chapter. It shows us that 'words evoke whole scenarios' (p. 32) and explains that alternative framing makes us imagine and talk about the same thing in different ways. Furthermore, it characterizes various kinds of framing processes: for example, through metaphors such as categorization and binary opposition. The last one, centered on the contrast us vs. them (the enemy), often takes place in the political domain, being particularly conducive to conflict. As far as framing effects are concerned, the author informs us that negation cannot suppress the images evoked by words (something which structures like 'Don't think about an elephant! …