
Political Keywords
Using Language that Uses Us
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 25. August 2005
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-0-19-516239-4 (ISBN)
Description
The Declaration of Independence states that all men are created equal in the United States, but that statement does not hold true for words. Some words carry more weight than others-they seem to work harder, get more done, and demand more respect. Political Keywords: Using Language that Uses Us looks at eight dominant words that are crucial to American political discourse, and how they have been employed during the last fifty years. Based on an analysis of eleven separate studies of political language, Political Keywords helps readers to understand what these terms mean and how they are used. For example, the book tracks what politics now means to modern commentators, how schoolteacher impress certain values upon the nation's children by invoking the office of the president, and why an innocent word like government sometimes makes people so upset. It details how the people are referenced in political talk and how the media portray themselves. The book also considers the work done by political parties, political promises, and political consultants because, together, they shed special light on modern elections.
Combining social science with subtle forms of cultural interpretation, Political Keywords: Using Language that Uses Us provides a fresh look at both American politics and American language. It is an ideal text for undergraduate and graduate courses in political communication, political language, political campaigns, media and politics, political psychology, public opinion, rhetorical criticism, contemporary public address, and presidential rhetoric.
Combining social science with subtle forms of cultural interpretation, Political Keywords: Using Language that Uses Us provides a fresh look at both American politics and American language. It is an ideal text for undergraduate and graduate courses in political communication, political language, political campaigns, media and politics, political psychology, public opinion, rhetorical criticism, contemporary public address, and presidential rhetoric.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
numerous tables and graphs
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
420 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-516239-4 (9780195162394)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
List of Figures ; List of Tables ; UNIT 1. THE LANGUAGE OF POLITICS ; 1. The Possibilities of Language ; 2. Whither Politics? An Evolving Construct ; 3. What is Politics? An Inventory of Meanings ; UNIT 2. THE LANGUAGE OF DEMOCRACY ; 4. The Government: A Troubling Ally ; 5. The Media: Powerful Despite Themselves ; 6. The People: Constructing an Electorate ; UNIT 3. THE LANGUAGE OF LEADERSHIP ; 7. The President: Lessons in Political Socialization ; 8. The President: How Institutions Preserve Themselves ; 9. The President: Managing Democratic Tensions ; UNIT 4. THE LANGUAGE OF CAMPAIGNING ; 10. The Party: An Irrepressible Institution ; 11. The Promise: Imagining the Future Together ; 12. The Consultant: A Synecdoche for All of Politics ; Conclusion: Language in Retrospect ; Index