Abstract
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 393-425 |
| Journal | Language in Society |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2007 |
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The discourse of resistance: Social change and policing in Northern Ireland. / Wilson, John; Stapleton, Karyn.
In: Language in Society, Vol. 36, No. 3, 06.2007, p. 393-425.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The discourse of resistance: Social change and policing in Northern Ireland
AU - Wilson, John
AU - Stapleton, Karyn
PY - 2007/6
Y1 - 2007/6
N2 - Modern social theory highlights the role of language in social change/reproduction, yet rarely draws on actual linguistic resources or theory. Equally, sociolinguistics situates linguistic practice within the social domain, but only weakly makes links to social theory. Using a linguistic analysis of policing discourses in Northern Ireland, this article considers how such analyses can both inform and be informed by broader social theories. Policing is a contentious issue for nationalists, and despite recent reforms, many continue to regard the (new) police force with suspicion. Data from nationalist women in Belfast are used to explore the thematic frameworks and interactional/pragmatic strategies (pragmatic blocking) through which the speakers jointly produce a ``discourse of resistance,'' effectively blocking acceptance of the new service. The analysis is discussed in relation to theories of social change (with particular reference to Bourdieu's habitus). Considered are implications for sociolinguistics, social theory, and policing policy in Northern Ireland. (Policing, Northern Ireland, nationalists, discourse, habitus, resistance, pragmatic blocking, social theory.)*
AB - Modern social theory highlights the role of language in social change/reproduction, yet rarely draws on actual linguistic resources or theory. Equally, sociolinguistics situates linguistic practice within the social domain, but only weakly makes links to social theory. Using a linguistic analysis of policing discourses in Northern Ireland, this article considers how such analyses can both inform and be informed by broader social theories. Policing is a contentious issue for nationalists, and despite recent reforms, many continue to regard the (new) police force with suspicion. Data from nationalist women in Belfast are used to explore the thematic frameworks and interactional/pragmatic strategies (pragmatic blocking) through which the speakers jointly produce a ``discourse of resistance,'' effectively blocking acceptance of the new service. The analysis is discussed in relation to theories of social change (with particular reference to Bourdieu's habitus). Considered are implications for sociolinguistics, social theory, and policing policy in Northern Ireland. (Policing, Northern Ireland, nationalists, discourse, habitus, resistance, pragmatic blocking, social theory.)*
U2 - 10.1017/S0047404507070194
DO - 10.1017/S0047404507070194
M3 - Article
VL - 36
SP - 393
EP - 425
JO - Language in Society
T2 - Language in Society
JF - Language in Society
SN - 0047-4045
IS - 3
ER -