Monday, October 02, 2017
The Linguistics of the Problem
Here's an interesting exercise in language for you, if you're interested: go back and read every newspaper and online report concerning the shooting in Las Vegas. As you read, count the number of times you come across the word murder.
Unless I've missed something, you will not find it.
Not once.
You will read that 58 people were killed, rather than murdered. You will be told that it was a shooting or a mass shooting rather than a murder or mass murder. The perpetrator is never described as the murderer, but as the shooter.
I'm a linguist. I love words. Words matter. When we cannot bring ourselves to use the right word ... to use antiseptic terms rather than admit that we're talking about murder - the intentional taking of a human life - we are sugar-coating the horror and closing our eyes to the deadly problem that threatens all of us, every day.
More thoughts on this sad topic tomorrow.
Bilbo
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6 comments:
Good point!
Yep, google Las Vegas murders and you get killings.
It's an unwillingness to call a spade a spade. There is an epidemic of pussyfooting around words. How can what happened in Las Vegas be described as anything but murder?
Perhaps reporters think of murder as a more singular event. Of course, mass murder covers it well. I'm waiting for the NRA's statement. They'll probably call for more guns: "If everyone in that crowd had a gun, they could have all shot upwards at him. The noise would have been too deafening so every gun needs a silencer too."
We need to change the 2nd amendment since it's not being interpreted reasonably. Personally, I like what Australia did after a horrific mass murder - they got rid of most of their guns.
What happened yesterday in Las Vegas was murder. Be real about it.
google Las Vegas murders and you get killings.
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