Språkpolitiska inslag i kampen mot diskriminering

Abstract

This article takes an interest in words and expressions evolving as part of the fight against discrimination, derogatory attitudes and oppression. A point of departure is that linguistic changes relating to increased diversity sometimes become the object of public criticism, which in turn may produce challenges to writers and journalists, as well as to language-planning activities. The aim is to investigate new naming practices within a framework of political justice agendas of people facing discrimination, and to relate this type of language development to the work of languageplanning institutions. This study is mainly based on interviews with representatives of three Swedish organizations whose members are engaged in activism or education: the disability movement, the LGBTQ movement, and an antiracist organization. It is also based on text examples from Mediearkivet and Korp (Språkbanken) relating public discourse. Analytical results indicate that different ideological standpoints (such as tolerance policies or norm critique) generate different types of naming practices and word meanings that often exist in parallel. Suggested language-planning activities to enable viable recommendations could involve an update of ideological points of view and the identification of meaning variation regarding potentially useful expressions.