The linguistic boundary problem

Abstract

ABSTRACT The boundary problem in political theory concerns the question of the constitution of the demos, and the principle(s) and/or mechanism(s) that may be permissibly used for its demarcation. But what are the linguistic terms in which such demarcation acts should take place? I contend that the boundary problem is nested within a linguistic boundary problem, and that a normative consideration on the constitution of the demos cannot avoid the need to address the question of its linguistic constitution, particularly on the part of ‘talk-centric’ deliberative approaches to democratic citizenship and inclusion. I argue that conceptualising the demos in pre-linguistic, non-linguistic or otherwise linguistically-unaware terms has substantive and adverse implications for its legitimacy claims. I conclude the interrogation of the boundary problem and its linguistic variant by proposing a shift from an abstracted notion of communicative rationality, towards a more situated communicative linguistic and political culture, grounded in linguistic epistemic humility.