The Politics of Language

Author: Rohan Qurashi

Affiliation: St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi

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Abstract:

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This paper undertakes a critical exploration of language as a strategic tool for persuasion, manipulation, and ideological reinforcement. Drawing from linguistic, rhetorical, and cognitive frameworks, it interrogates how language operates beneath the threshold of conscious awareness, subtly shaping perception and behavior. Research has revealed that much of what happens in our minds as a result of language use is still hidden from our conscious awareness, allowing those in positions of power to wield linguistic strategies with profound, often unnoticed, effects. The analysis spans political, social, and interpersonal domains, demonstrating how power structures exploit euphemisms, dysphemisms, and rhetorical fallacies to frame narratives, obscure truths, and mobilize belief. Far from being a neutral medium of communication, language emerges as a potent force - capable of both constructing realities and distorting them. By scrutinizing the ethical dimensions of linguistic manipulation, this study underscores the imperative of critical literacy in an era where rhetorical strategies increasingly define public discourse.

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Keywords: Language manipulation, rhetorical strategies, euphemism, dysphemism, political discourse, power and language, propaganda, persuasion, cognitive linguistics, social influence, linguistic ethics, communication theory, discourse analysis

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ISSN 3069-8200