Genetically Modified Language: The Discourse of Arguments for GM Crops and Food

ISBN-13: 9780415314688 / Angielski / Miękka / 2004 / 176 str.

Guy Cook

Opis

The GM debate is a war of words, which will be won as much by persuasive argument, as by action in the lab, field or supermarket. As the argument intensifies and the voices on all sides get louder, "Genetically Modified Language" cuts through the confusion and controversy to unpick the issues and ideology at the heart of the debate.
Examining the particular discourses of the key players in the arena, from the media to politicians, NGOs to Biotech corporations and research scientists to farmers, Guy Cook presents a critical analysis of the language of the GM debate, and how it influences policy and opinion. Each perspective has its own discourse and this can lead to misunderstanding and disagreement. Participants whose opinions are based around scientific, commercial, ethical or political concerns adopt differing styles of argument, metaphors and analogies, phrases and single words, and these can have quite different effects when they cross discoursal boundaries.
Written in a clear,

Recenzje

'Guy Cook ... makes a key contribution to the debate by analysing the language used by the scientists, politicians, journalists and campaigners who have been most strident.' - Lawrence Phelan, The Independent on Sunday

'The author's stated aim was to educate the reader as to how language can be used to manipulate opinion. Not only was this aim achieved, but also the author's elegant prose, clear formatting and clear definitions of linguistic or scientific jargon make the book accessible to a wide spectrum of readers. At the same time, the extensive notes and bibliography make it a useful resource for the discourse analyst.' - Zara Josephs, Research Biologist

'...this is a delightful, readable and informative book... The book seeks to apply linguistic principles to pro-GM discourse in a way that is both revealing and comprehensible to the non-specialist and I highly recommend it for those who want to understand how language both reflects and perpetuates the divisive polarity of the contemporary GM debate.' - E. Ann Clark, Bulletin ACPPU

Spis treści

Introduction  Part 1: The Speakers  1. Politicians  2. Scientists  3. Journalists  4. Companies  2. The spoken about  5. Science and Language  6. Key Phrases  7. Metaphors and Comparisons  Conclusion: The spoken to  8. Public Politics  Appendices  Appendix 1: Disputed Facts  Appendix 2: The rest of the article 'My 10 Fears for GM Food'  Bibliography

O autorze

Guy Cook is Professor of Applied Linguistics at The Open University, UK.