“Language as power: Analyzing the intersection of linguistics and politics in Ijeoma Oluo's work”
The current study examines the relationship between linguistics and politics in work by Ijeoma Oluo with particular emphasis placed on power relations inherent in language. This Research employed qualitative analysis of her book, “So You Want to Talk About Race”, and her writings, this study analyze...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Social Sciences and Humanities Open |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125001329 |
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| Summary: | The current study examines the relationship between linguistics and politics in work by Ijeoma Oluo with particular emphasis placed on power relations inherent in language. This Research employed qualitative analysis of her book, “So You Want to Talk About Race”, and her writings, this study analyzes the way that Oluo achieves this by explaining concepts such as systemic racism, privilege, and oppression in an understandable way. In this respect, Oluo skillfully uses powerful symbolism, narrative, and metaphorical tropes to reverse the dominant discourses to favor the oppressed others. On this view, she emphasizes that language is not only a tool for domination but also discourses for emancipation especially for the oppressed groups. This research also discusses Oluo's perspective on the intersectionality of race, gender, and class as an approach to understanding societal oppression, by applying Critical Discourse and Foucault's concept of power to analyze the linguistic strategies that shape public discourse. Furthermore, the researcher also examines in detail how Oluo applies social media methods and essays on political movements like Black Lives Matter. Thus, by eradicating epithets and reclaiming language, Oluo turns public opinion into an effective tool for the political struggle to change the lives of people of color in America contributing substantially to the current discourses on race and identity. By showing how Oluo strategically uses metaphors, framing, and rhetorical shifts to make complex racial issues accessible to a diverse audience, this research contributes to the growing field of activist discourse studies. Future research could examine how such linguistic tools in digital activism serve to create more social and political change, in the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements, for instance. Through an analysis of language in technology and activism around the world, as well as learning how intersectionality upends oppression, one can develop international discourse equity in diverse ways. |
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| ISSN: | 2590-2911 |