Analyzing the Effect of Words in Political Rhetoric
Analyzing the Effect of Words in Political Rhetoric People are simple beings with opinions easily manipulated by the world. One of the most dangerous weapons in the war to manipulate human opinion is the basic word. In The Political Mind, George Lakoff says:
The political power of words lies not primarily in their form – that is, in speech – or even in the meanings of the words they are directly linked to, but in the totality of brain circuitry that activation can spread to: the frames, metaphors, prototypes, metonymies, and the entire system of concepts. Words matter. They shape our politics – and our lives.
Lakoff believes that words are integral. He says that words are not only vital and influential through their definitions and contexts but rather through the perception of such words by the audience.
Words are essential to the public opinion. A group of people in a room can be called a meeting or a party, which would you be more excited to attend? The world is camouflaging horrific war details with pretty words and symbols while the truth lies beneath. For example, in Walt Disney’s banned cartoon Commando Duck, Donald Duck single-handedly takes out the Japanese troops. However, this piece of propaganda fails to show the destruction that ensued. In the cartoon, airplanes were destroyed rather than people killed, hiding the brutality of war. Uncle Sam wants you to fight, so fight. The Japanese are bad, so fight them. Uncle Sam is good and he represents the people, so listen.
Lakoff’s point is supported in How to Detect Propaganda by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis. Propaganda, as defined by the Macmillan English Dictionary, is “information, especially false information, that a government or organization spreads in order to influence people’s opinions and beliefs.” One of the seven propaganda devices discussed in the piece is Name Calling. Through this technique, people are associated with groups with negative connotations, or vice versa, to allow
The political power of words lies not primarily in their form – that is, in speech – or even in the meanings of the words they are directly linked to, but in the totality of brain circuitry that activation can spread to: the frames, metaphors, prototypes, metonymies, and the entire system of concepts. Words matter. They shape our politics – and our lives.
Lakoff believes that words are integral. He says that words are not only vital and influential through their definitions and contexts but rather through the perception of such words by the audience.
Words are essential to the public opinion. A group of people in a room can be called a meeting or a party, which would you be more excited to attend? The world is camouflaging horrific war details with pretty words and symbols while the truth lies beneath. For example, in Walt Disney’s banned cartoon Commando Duck, Donald Duck single-handedly takes out the Japanese troops. However, this piece of propaganda fails to show the destruction that ensued. In the cartoon, airplanes were destroyed rather than people killed, hiding the brutality of war. Uncle Sam wants you to fight, so fight. The Japanese are bad, so fight them. Uncle Sam is good and he represents the people, so listen.
Lakoff’s point is supported in How to Detect Propaganda by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis. Propaganda, as defined by the Macmillan English Dictionary, is “information, especially false information, that a government or organization spreads in order to influence people’s opinions and beliefs.” One of the seven propaganda devices discussed in the piece is Name Calling. Through this technique, people are associated with groups with negative connotations, or vice versa, to allow