Language as Symbolic Power

Kramsch combines insights from linguistics, anthropology and sociology to show how language represents and constructs social reality.

Claire Kramsch (Author)

9781108835862, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 29 October 2020

300 pages
15 x 23 x 2 cm, 0.49 kg

'… [This book] invites us to focus on the symbolic effects of discourse and in so doing increases our understanding of how we shape the world and how the world shapes us in online, offline, and liminal spaces. It invites us to wonder, talk, and teach about how the symbolic power of language might help us better understand and resist a world fraught with deeply entrenched inequalities, racism, political populism, and climate injustices.' Ari Sherris, Sociolinguistic Studies journal

Language is not simply a tool for communication - symbolic power struggles underlie any speech act, discourse move, or verbal interaction, be it in face-to-face conversations, online tweets or political debates. This book provides a clear and accessible introduction to the topic of language and power from an applied linguistics perspective. It is clearly split into three sections: the power of symbolic representation, the power of symbolic action and the power to create symbolic reality. It draws upon a wide range of existing work by philosophers, sociolinguists, sociologists and applied linguists, and includes current real-world examples, to provide a fresh insight into a topic that is of particular signi?cance and interest in the current political climate and in our increasingly digital age. The book shows the workings of language as symbolic power in educational, social, cultural and political settings and discusses ways to respond to and even resist symbolic violence.

Introduction
Part I. The Power of Symbolic Representation: 1. 'I speak therefore I am'
2. The politics of representation
3. Narratives of power: the power of narrative
Part II. The Power of Symbolic Action: 4. 'I do things with words, therefore I am'
5. From symbolic power to symbolic violence
6. When symbolic violence becomes symbolic warfare
Part III. The Power to Create Symbolic Reality: 7. 'I am seen and talked about, therefore I am'
8. Language as symbolic power in the digital age
9. Engaging with symbolic power: responding to symbolic violence
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Anthropology [JHM], Language acquisition [CFDC], Sociolinguistics [CFB], Linguistics [CF]