Language and Symbolic Power (Paperback, New Ed)

This volume brings together Bourdieu's highly original writings on language and on the relations between language, power and politics. Bourdieu develops a forceful critique of traditional approaches to language, including the linguistic theories of Saussure and Chomsky and the theory of speech-acts elaborated by Austin and others. He argues that language should be viewed not only as a means of communication but also as a medium of power through which individuals pursue their interests and display their practical competence.

Drawing on the concepts which are part of his distinctive theoretical approach, Bourdieu maintains that linguistic utterances or expressions can be understood as the product of the relation between a 'linguistic market' and a 'linguistic habitus'. When individuals produce linguistic expressions, they deploy accumulated resources and they implicitly adapt their expressions to the demands of the social field or market. Hence every linguistic interaction, however personal and insignificant they may seem, bears the traces of the social structure that it both expresses and helps to reproduce.

Boudieu's account sheds fresh light on the ways in which linguistic usage varies according to considerations such as class and gender. It also opens up a new approach to the ways in which language is used in the domain of politics. For politics is, among other things, the site "par excellence" in which words are deeds and the symbolic character of power is at stake.

This volume, by one of the leading social thinkers in the world today, represents a major contribution to the study of language and power. It will be of interest to students throughout the social sciences andhumanities, especially in sociology, politics, anthropology, linguistics and literature.

General

Imprint:	Polity Press
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	December 1992
First published:	December 1992
Authors:	P Bourdieu
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 25mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	302
Edition:	New Ed
ISBN-13:	978-0-7456-1034-4
Categories:	Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political science & theory Books > Language & Literature > Language & linguistics > Semantics (meaning) > General Books > Social sciences > Sociology, social studies > Anthropology > General
LSN:	0-7456-1034-X
Barcode:	9780745610344

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!