Kanttekeningen

Een theoretische bijdrage tot de studie van taalgebruik in de politiek, met toepassing

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Abstract

On the use of language in politics: a theoretical approach, with a practical application - There is no such thing as a science called political linguistics. At the same time, ’language and politics as well as ’language of politics’ seem to form favourite research areas for scientists in different kind of disciplines. In an attempt to contribute to a general approach to the political use of language, our article mainly aims at bridging the gap between linguistic approaches and those merely dealing with politics as such (as does content analysis). In the first section, we consider some trends in research. This is followed by an outline of a classification of definitions in addition to a general attempt at definition. The third section offers a theoretical framework for the analysis of the language of politics, based on a functional linguistic uses and gratifications model. In approach as well as in definition, basic structuralistic dualities,such as ’language-parole’ and ’signifiant-signifié’ are disregarded by putting emphasis on such questions as ’context’ and ’meaning’ of the sign; for this purpose, analysis of the communication process is seen as the main key. The last section demonstrates an application of our research model. Starting from some functions attributed to metaphors in literature, a metaphorical uses and gratifications model has been worked out and empirically tested for Flemish newspapers. Four examples were analysed, covering the period 1831-1981. The findings support the hypothesis that frequency, degree of innovation and content of political metaphors vary in correlation with economic indicators such as the degree of unemployment (20th century) and prices of wholesale trade (19th century).

How to Cite:

De Landtsheer, C., (1988) “Een theoretische bijdrage tot de studie van taalgebruik in de politiek, met toepassing”, Tijdschrift voor Sociale Wetenschappen 33(2), 151–167. doi: https://doi.org/10.21825/tvsw.94980