Civic Society + Linguistics

[Aelita]

Hi, so I live in post-revolution Tunisia and I'm VERY interested in Civic Society before and after the revolution and the changes that it went through, especially Human Rights activism. I want to work on my dissertation on something related to that. However, I study linguistics and the system is very rigid here, any ideas how to link the two topics? please

 

[emsr2d2]

Can you look at how language was used pre-revolution and compare it with post-revolution usage, perhaps in terms of how the press report the news? Has there been a difference in freedom of speech? It seems to me that it could be linked to human rights, if not activism.

 

[Tdol]

Have important words changed in their meaning since the revolution? Have new words appeared? If there have been enough changes to turn the concept into a paper, then it should work. But do check with your supervisor first.

 

[BobK]

On that last point, read this. When he was writing this Orwell was working on 1984 (he delivered the manuscript to his publisher in 1948 [geddit? ;-)], though it wasn't actually published until 1949. In an Appendix to 1984 he provided a description of Newspeak - the language used by the authorities in 1984. The novel itself is a good read, but if you have time only for the Appendix read that. Newspeak was designed so that unorthodox thoughts just couldn't be expressed.

This is a very interesting area, and I wish you luck with it. One area of special interest would be history textbooks! ;-)

b