A Sociolinguistic Analysis of Violent Political Language

ABSTRACT

The relationship between language and politics is a complementary one. Since language can be a tool for integrating and disintegrating the masses in politics, politicians have crashed in on this medium which they manipulate to canvass for votes from the populace. This language sometimes leads to violence in the polity as it is used to achieve the personal goals of politicians. Using content and descriptive analyses, this study examines the linguistic features in violent political expressions and also discussed some of the issues that go with this language variety. Findings reveal that: aspersions and name calling constitute part of violent political language; violent political language often makes use of threats; the language is hinged on propaganda; violent political language makes promises that sound as threats; it is replete with hate speeches; rhetoric and persuasion constitute the language of violence in politics, etc.