The Role of Language in Justifying and Eliminating Cultural Violence

William C. Gay

Jump to Content

Chapter 2 The Role of Language in Justifying and Eliminating Cultural Violence

In: Peace, Culture, and Violence

Author:

William C. Gay

William C. Gay
Search for other papers by William C. Gay in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 31–63

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004361911_004

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract:

The thesis of this essay is that language plays a central role in justifying cultural violence and in eliminating or at least reducing cultural violence. After defending the position that language can do violence and that such violence is inappropriate, this essay presents and supports Johan Galtung’s concepts of direct, structural, and cultural violence and builds on his inclusion of language as one of the areas of cultural violence. By contrast, problems are shown with the concepts of violence found in Slavoj Žižek and Paul Ricoeur. Then, the author’s concepts of linguistic violence and linguistic nonviolence are related to the work of Patricia Friedrich on peace linguistics and nonkilling linguistics and the work of Irene Comins Mingol and Sonia París Albert on nonkilling philosophy. Support is provided for their criticisms of linguistic imperialism and “linguicism” (a term modeled after racism and sexism) and for their efforts, like ones by bell hooks, to show how the oppressed, using the language of the oppressor (including English—despite its globally hegemonic status), can develop strategies of resistance. The essay concludes by suggesting that efforts to eliminate linguistic violence and to advance linguistic nonviolence are central to reducing cultural violence and to advancing social justice.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/edcoll/9789004361911/B9789004361911_003.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

Peace, Culture, and Violence

Series: Value Inquiry Book Series, Volume: 316, Philosophy of Peace, Volume: 316, and Value Inquiry Book Series Online, Volume: 316

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004361911

Publisher:: Brill

Print Publication Date:: 18 Feb 2018

Subjects
- Philosophy
  - Continental Philosophy
  - Ethics & Moral Philosophy
- Social Sciences
  - General

Front Matter

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	2673	346	78
Full Text Views	206	4	0
PDF Views & Downloads	58	3	0

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

Chapter 2 The Role of Language in Justifying and Eliminating Cultural Violence

Abstract:

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

Peace, Culture, and Violence

Table of Contents

Metrics

Metrics