Political Language Research Articles

Bodyguards, priests and professionals: Hungarian translators of French and German thought

ABSTRACT This article investigates the translations of radical texts in Hungary in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. It offers a survey of French political texts rendered into Latin and Hungarian, and follows the historic exploration through discussing the work of three Hungarian Jacobins put to trial for their participation in the Hungarian Jacobin movement: János Laczkovics, Ferenc Szentmarjay, and Ferenc Verseghy. It argues that their work as translators went hand in hand with their political activism. Through mapping out the use of the local vernacular and the political language of Latin in the process, it calls for developing new trends in research in historical transnationalism and multilingualism in the field of textual production.

The Influence of Politeness Norms and Language Skills on How Students Communicate with Teachers in Civic Education Learning Subjects

This study investigates the influence of politeness norms and language skills on communication procedures between students and teachers in junior and senior high school students learning subjects in pink. This research method uses quantitative research with an observational approach involving 92 respondents, and this research instrument uses a Likert scale with 92 questions. The data results using multiple regression tests show that the influence of politeness norms on communication manners significantly affects communication manners with a regression value of 18.6%. Annova F produces a value of 10,024, indicating the significance of the model as a whole, while the sign value of 0.000 confirms each independent variable. This study plays an important role in understanding the influence of politeness norms and language skills on communication manners between students and teachers in civic education learning subjects. This research provides insight into how politeness norms and language skills affect communication between students and teachers, especially in Civics subjects at the junior and senior high school levels.

Speech Act as a Factor of Socio-Political Change: Stating the Problem

The purpose of this study is to pose the problem of analyzing the relationship between conceptual (linguistic) and social changes, as well as to reveal the role of socio-political speech action of political theorists as key actors in these processes. The article considers the issues of the construction and changes of social and political reality, as well as the role of speech acts in these processes as a special type of social action. According to J. Searle’s general theory of social reality, speech acts are seen as the basis and a necessary condition for socio-political changes. The structure and elements of speech acts are described within the framework of J. Austin’s theory of speech acts, supplemented and formalized by Searle. The article discusses the influence of this theory on the formation of the theoretical and methodological approach of the Cambridge School of Intellectual History, used to understand the analysis of socio-political changes in various societies and historical periods. As an example of such research, the article describes the main elements of the approach of one of the Cambridge School’s founders Quentin Skinner. The analytical tools used by Skinner and his colleagues help to understand the connection between conceptual and social changes in the history of political thought. Considering political theorists as ideologists, Skinner explains through the analysis of political languages and ideological context how authors-ideologists, using statements that are the basis of their theoretical concepts and rhetoric, intentionally take certain actions that change the social reality. The possibilities, attempts and prospects of applying the Cambridge School’s methodology to the Russian history are also considered.

A Comparative Study on English and Chinese Compliments in Intercultural Communication Contexts

As society progresses, in human linguistic exchanges, compliments, a type of polite language with relatively high frequency of usage, have become prevalent. In cross-cultural communication, gracious compliments facilitate the establishment, maintenance, and preservation of harmonious interpersonal relationships. Despite their similarities, the deployment of these English-Chinese accolades reveals the disparities that exist between two distinct cultures. This paper delves into the differences between Chinese and American compliments in terms of topic and recipient, grammar and syntax structure, and response patterns, pointing out that language and culture are inextricably intertwined. Only by striving to master both languages and cultural backgrounds can one effectively utilize compliments for cross-cultural communication.

Gender Stereotypes toward Non-gendered Generative AI: The Role of Gendered Expertise and Gendered Linguistic Cues

With rapid advancements in large language models (LLMs), generative AI (GenAI) is transforming people's life and work across various domains. Unlike previous AI technologies that are often feminized, most of these GenAI tools are non-gendered, potentially preventing users from applying gender stereotypes. However, GenAI's use of natural language can evoke social perceptions including gender attribution, making it susceptible to gender associations. Using two online experiments, we explored how GenAI's removal of gender could mitigate individuals' gender stereotypes toward it, and how certain linguistic cues could trigger gender stereotypes even if it is non-gendered. We found that the removal of AI's gender did mitigate gender stereotypes toward it, but only to an extent. Additionally, gendered linguistic cues such as politeness, apologies, and tentative language (or lack thereof) could trigger gender stereotypes toward non-gendered AI. We contribute to HCI and CSCW research by providing a timely investigation into individuals' gender stereotypes toward GenAI agents, and one of the first to examine the profound impact of language style on users' perceptions and attributions of social characteristics to GenAI. Our findings shed light on the purposeful and responsible design of GenAI that prioritizes promoting gender equality, thereby ensuring that technological advancements align with evolving social values.

Professional Basketball, the ‘Hardship Case’ and the ‘Culture of Poverty’: The Social Construction of Black Basketball Players from Spencer Haywood to Moses Malone, 1969–1974

Between 1969 and 1974, a group of Black basketball players from Spencer Haywood to Moses Malone disrupted the protocol of professional and college basketball labour policy, regulations, and behavioral norms by opting out of the previously obligatory four years of collegiate competition to turn pro. The rhetorical construct adopted by the professional basketball leagues to publicly address this labour disruption was the ‘hardship case’. This article argues that the discussion of ‘hardship’, as it became reified throughout White sports journalism, adapted the sociological, anthropological, and political language of breadwinner liberalism and the ‘culture of poverty’ to the domains of sports and popular culture. As the more progressive 1960s transitioned into the 1970s, the ‘culture of poverty’ lost its tethering to liberal ideals and became a discursive framework for White, conservative—or neoconservative—reaction. Utilizing Stuart Hall’s notion of Black popular culture as a contested space, this article shows how professional basketball became an important cultural location for ‘strategic confrontations’ over the meaning of the Black athlete in the late 1960s and 1970s. Professional Black basketball players, this article argues, became complex discursive signifiers that reflected White anxieties and fantasies in an era of economic recession, cultural divisive, and grievance-driven identity politics.

Teori Pragmatika Bahasa dan Kesantunan Berbahasa

This research uses library research methods. The application of this method is carried out systematically through several steps, starting from determining a general topic, careful literature analysis, collecting and analyzing books as a theoretical basis, as well as searching for journals and relevant literature from previous research regarding language pragmatics and language politeness. The purpose of writing this article is to understand the theory of language pragmatics and language politeness. This article discusses the history of pragmatics, the definition of pragmatics, factors that cause impolite language use, politeness in language, and politeness strategies in language.

The Representation of Islam in European Parliament Sessions: A Corpus Study of ‘Europarl 3: German’

This study investigates the representation of Islam in European Parliament sessions using the Europarl 3: German corpus, focusing on collocations related to Islam to understand their associated sentiments and semantic distributions. Political discourse plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions, and Islam is often framed within the context of security and conflict in contemporary European narratives. This study aims to explore two key aspects: (1) the sentiments associated with collocations related to Islam in European Parliament sessions, and (2) the semantic categorization of these collocations within the corpus. Using collocation and concordance analysis via Corpus Query Processing (CQP), the study finds that themes with absolute negative sentiments are predominantly associated with the term Terrorismus 'terrorism,' which is frequently linked to Islam. However, some other collocations reveal variations in sentiment, including the presence of limited but notable positive sentiments. The study also categorizes these collocations into semantic groups based on established corpus linguistics frameworks, identifying patterns of representation that indicate bias in political discourse toward Islam. These findings highlight the securitization of Islam in political narratives, which may reinforce negative stereotypes and contribute to social polarization. Nevertheless, the existence of references with positive sentiments suggests opportunities to promote more balanced and constructive discourse. This study underscores the importance of inclusive political language to foster social cohesion. Future research is recommended to expand the corpus to other languages, conduct longitudinal analyses, and further explore positive narratives related to Islam to achieve a more balanced political discourse in Europe

Irony and hyperrealism in media discourses: examining the Israeli-Palestinian ‘conflict’

ABSTRACT As a powerful discursive trope, irony is used to interpret the recent Israeli-Palestinian ‘conflict’ since 7 October 2023. Hinging on various political discourses, the paper examines the workings of the political language, emphasising irony. Interconnected with semiotics, hyperrealism and Jean Baudrillard’s concepts of simulacra, where the boundaries between what is real and imaginary are blurred, the paper aims to fulfil three objectives. First, it stresses the importance of studying irony in understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how language is used to manufacture consent, especially in media discourses. Second, based on the definition of a ‘lack of fit’ between what is real and what is imaginary, the paper argues that irony surpasses the classic pragmatic interpretations. It is used as a social critique but also contributes to the hyperreal. Third, the paper explains how the use of language in political media discourses aims to score ideological goals.

The sixth labour government on poverty and inequality: policy action and political language

ABSTRACT In her time as Prime Minister of the sixth Labour government, Jacinda Ardern made inequality and poverty central issues in her political agenda, and committed the government she led to making a lasting impact on these issues. In this article, I evaluate their approach to inequality and poverty in two distinct ways. I first provide an account of the policy initiatives of the sixth Labour government (2017–2023) and summarise the effects of these initiatives. This analysis shows that the government relied primarily on politically straightforward and uncontroversial policy actions that did not challenge important aspects of the status quo. Second, I present a critical evaluation of the policy narratives of inequality and poverty constructed by Ardern and her government. This analysis of key texts finds that inequality was constructed overwhelmingly in terms of the problem of poverty (eliding the issue of wealth concentration) and that the Government’s policy narratives were consistently inclusive and politically non-threatening, refusing to acknowledge or address the social cleavages that contribute to and that are exacerbated by poverty and inequality.

PRABOWO SUBIANTO'S EUPHEMISM USED IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DEBATE

Prabowo Subianto is one of the 2024 presidential candidates participating in the Indonesian presidential election debate organized by the General Elections Commission (KPU). This debate features polite and non-offensive language, reflecting the use of euphemisms. This research aims to uncover the hidden practices in the use of euphemisms that Prabowo Subianto applied during the debate. A descriptive qualitative approach was employed, with the data consisting of orthographic transcriptions of his utterances. The data were collected through the observation method, advanced note-taking techniques, and documentation. The analysis was conducted using Content Analysis with Krippendorff's framework, which includes sampling, recording, and context units. The findings reveal ten types of euphemisms used by Prabowo Subianto, with loanwords being the most dominant, followed by hedges, overstatements, litotes, periphrasis, metaphors, downtoners, underspecification, apologetic expressions, and understatements. The study also identified eight main functions of euphemisms, and the most dominant function is being self-promotion, followed by protecting uncertain statements, as well as reducing hostility. This research enriches linguistic studies, particularly in the field of pragmatics, by demonstrating how various types of euphemisms are used in political communication.

WYPOWIEDZI CYRYLA I W ZACHODNIOEUROPEJSKICH I POLSKICH MASSMEDIACH, CZYLI KOŚCIÓŁ PRAWOSŁAWNY W SŁUŻBIE PROPAGANDY WOJENNEJ W OBLICZU AGRESJI ROSJI NA UKRAINĘ (2022)

Persuasion, disinformation and manipulation, which are a part of the propaganda, can be regarded as central terms of the language of politics especially during the conflict situations and wars. In the paper the problem is analyzed, in what way the language of politics uses the techniques of the propaganda in the official statements of Kirill in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022). The explored corpus are the news announcements as well as the Kirill’s social media posts. The aim of such analysis is to examine, how and to what extent the Russian propaganda techniques through the agency of Kirill present and justify the war.

Politeness and Respect in Indonesian Traditions: An Ethnographic Communication Perspective

This study explores the Mahpangngolo tradition, a ceremonial procession integral to celebrations among the people of Enrekang, Indonesia. The tradition symbolizes community participation and reinforces values of politeness and respect. However, younger generations are increasingly disengaged from such cultural practices, threatening their preservation. An ethnographic communication approach was employed, involving observations, interviews, and documentation. Dell Hymes' SPEAKING model (Situation, Participants, Ends, Act Sequence, Key, Instrumentalities, Norms, Genres) served as the analytical framework for understanding the communicative dimensions of Mahpangngolo. The Mahpangngolo procession emphasizes the symbolic exchange of gifts between guests and hosts. This act is marked by the use of formal and polite language, reflecting mutual respect and community cohesion. Specific expressions by guest representatives and celebration family members underscore the cultural significance of respect and politeness. The findings highlight the Mahpangngolo tradition as a medium for transmitting core values of Indonesian society. Addressing the indifference of younger generations requires initiatives to promote cultural understanding and appreciation. The Mahpangngolo tradition embodies politeness and respect, core values that strengthen communal bonds. Efforts to preserve and promote these traditions are vital for maintaining cultural heritage.

DIGITAL LITERACY AND LINGUISTIC POLITENESS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN ACEH TAMIANG

This study examines the impact of digital technology on language politeness among teenagers in Aceh Tamiang Regency, highlighting the dual effects of technology and the need for digital literacy. The objectives are twofold: (1) to explore the influence of digital literacy on language politeness among teenagers and (2) to identify the principles of language politeness observed in their interactions. Employing a qualitative approach with descriptive methods, the research was conducted in Seruway and Kejuruan Muda subdistricts. The subjects, aged 12 to 24 years, were selected based on WHO's classification of teenagers and proportional random sampling techniques. Data were derived from the speech of teenagers, collected through observation using a Non-Participant Observation Technique. Analysis involved (1) observing and monitoring relevant speech, (2) recording and noting language use, (3) classifying speech into categories of direct and indirect politeness, and (4) analyzing the classified data. Findings indicate that digital literacy plays a significant role in promoting polite language use among teenagers. It helps counter the growing use of impolite expressions, which can create negative communication habits and risk offending others. This study underscores the importance of digital literacy in fostering respectful and effective communication among the youth in a technologically driven era.

The Politics of Language, by David Beaver and Jason Stanley

<i>The Politics of Language</i>, by David Beaver and Jason Stanley

Chinese Diplomatic Political Language: Conceptual Dimensions, Historical Evolution, and Diplomatic Art

Chinese Diplomatic Political Language: Conceptual Dimensions, Historical Evolution, and Diplomatic Art

Navigating Politeness: The Forms of Polite Sentences between Health Workers and Patients in Padang’s Government Public Hospital

The ineffectiveness of communication in health services is reflected in the impoliteness of communication which makes the interaction between health workers and patients disharmonious. Language politeness will create an atmosphere of mutual trust, appreciation, and respect for each other. A harmonious atmosphere will encourage patients to accept the quality of health services with full awareness, so that patient disappointment can be avoided. This study aims to identify the forms of polite sentences that occur between health workers and patients in interaction. The research method used in this study is descriptive qualitative method. The data is obtained by using the observational method, this method is followed by recording and note-taking techniques. Data analysis is explained by using the pragmatic pairing method. The result of this study is explain that health workers most frequently use four types of sentence to express politeness to patients: declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamative. Declarative sentences are the most common, as they allow healthcare workers to share information or updates respectfully and courteously, creating a polite and comfortable communication environment. This type of sentence allows the health worker to convey instructions or details about the procedure in an informative yet non-coercive manner.

A Descriptive Study on Filipino Language Politeness in High School Students’ Interaction

Language politeness is vital in Philippine communication, reflecting hierarchical social structures and cultural values. This study explores (1) the politeness strategies students use in school contexts and (2) differences in strategies when interacting with male versus female peers. High school students speaking Binisayang Surigaonon, Cebuano, Butuanon, Bisaya, and Kamayo demonstrate an awareness of Filipino norms, favoring indirect language to show respect, avoid conflict, and maintain harmony. Common markers include “please,” compliments, and formal titles, with minimal gender differences, indicating shared respect-based communication. Educators are encouraged to promote balanced language use by combining direct and indirect approaches, incorporating role-playing and interactive activities to help students adapt politeness strategies across contexts. This adaptability supports students’ intercultural communication skills and aligns with cultural expectations, fostering social and academic growth in multilingual settings.

Lexical and semantic challenges in teaching and learning political and legal specialised language at the Preparatory Programme of Romanian Language for Foreign Citizens

Lexical and semantic challenges in teaching and learning political and legal specialised language at the Preparatory Programme of Romanian Language for Foreign Citizens

Indirect Speech Acts in Javanese

Understanding speech ethics can help avoid conflicts. In Javanese society, a person can be considered impolite if they use direct speech in certain situations. Therefore, Javanese people tend to use indirect speech when interacting with others. This research discusses indirect speech acts and their relationship with language politeness in Javanese society. This research data consists of indirect speech acts used by the Javanese community in Magelang. To collect data, researchers employed listening techniques, as well as recording and documenting conversations. To ensure the reliability of the data, in-depth observations were conducted. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method. To analyze the problem, researchers applied theories of indirect speech acts, language politeness norms, and the indirectness scale. The results show that speech acts do not directly describe language politeness. Speakers tend to use indirect speech acts, particularly when addressing someone of higher social status or when there is social distance between the speaker and the addressee. Indirect speech acts include satire, commands, requests, and subtle refusals. Speakers use indirect speech to convey politeness, maintain harmony, or avoid conflict.