Solidarity and power in German : language as political action : a contribution to the socio-cultural history of the German language
Germany's latest attempt at unification raises again the question of German nationhood and nationality. The present study examines the links between the development of the German language and the political history of Germany, principally in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By examining the role of language in the establishment and exercise of political power and in the creation of national and group solidarity in Germany, the study both provides insights into the nature of language as political action and contributes to the socio-cultural history of the German language. The language-theoretical hypothesis on which the study is based sees language as a central factor in political action, and opposes the notion that language is a reflection of underlying political 'realities' which exist independently of language. Language is viewed as language-in-text which performs identifiable functions. Following Leech, five functions are distinguished, two of which (the regulative and the phatic) are regarded as central to political processes. The phatic function is tested against the role of the German language as a creator and symbol of national identity, with particular attention being paid to concepts of the
Townson, M. R.
German Society and Culture
Solidarity and power in German : language as political action : a contribution to the socio-cultural history of the German language. Germany's latest attempt at unification raises again the question of German nationhood and nationality. The present study examines the links between the development of the German language and the political history of Germany, principally in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. By examining the role of language in the establishment and exercise of political power and in the creation of national and group solidarity in Germany, the study both provides insights into the nature of language as political action and contributes to the socio-cultural history of the German language. The language-theoretical hypothesis on which the study is based sees language as a central factor in political action, and opposes the notion that language is a reflection of underlying political 'realities' which exist independently of language. Language is viewed as language-in-text which performs identifiable functions. Following Leech, five functions are distinguished, two of which (the regulative and the phatic) are regarded as central to political processes. The phatic function is tested against the role of the German language as a creator and symbol of national identity, with particular attention being paid to concepts of the
solidarity power german_language political_action socio_cultural history german_language germany late attempt unification raise_question german nationhood nationality present_study examines links development german_language political_history germany principally examine_role language establishment exercise political_power creation national group solidarity germany study provide_insight nature language political_action contribute socio_cultural history german_language language theoretical hypothesis study_base see language central factor political_action oppose notion language reflection underlie political realities exist independently language language view language text performs identifiable function following leech function distinguish_two regulative regard central political process function test role german_language creator symbol national_identity particular_attention_pay concept