Talking Terrorism: A Dictionary of the Loaded Language of Political Violence

(Hardback)

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"Anarchist," "freedom fighter," "fundamentalist," "terrorist." These words are thrown about today with seeming abandon. But each of these terms, and hundreds like them, have connotations and denotations charged with meanings which can be used strategically by politicians, journalists, and ordinary citizens. "Talking Terrorism" defines, traces, and explains the loaded, controversial, confusing, and shifting language that surrounds terrorist activity. The dictionary comprises words used to characterize individuals, groups, or countries that commit or support acts of political violence. Also covered is the closely related language that conveys the justifications and agendas of those responding to violence, including these groups' self-characterizations, which might entail the masking of a multitude of sins. In addition, the ways terrorists use language to smear enemies, recruit and inspire group members, and communicate the righteousness of their causes are examined. Following an A-to-Z format, the volume identifies and defines terms in dictionary style, then explores the charged meanings of the words, and often supplies examples of the words' usage. Cross-references lead readers to related words and show the complicated web of words used in this verbal warfare. In the words and verbal manoeuvres discussed in the dictionary, readers should see how enemies are manufactured through demonization, biased media coverage and government spin in action, and brutality legitimized as virtue, along with the besmirching of its victims. Much of what readers will find may not seem encouraging, yet it should open the eyes and ears of anyone who wants to come to grips with today's tumultuous political world.

Reviews

"The dictionary is accessibly written and organised, ending with a handy index and general bibliography for those interested in reading more on the subject of political violence. The book entries offer a usefully broad scope on politically violent actions and their perpetrators - from lobby groups such as anti-abortion campaigners to state, transnational and other global actors. I recommend the dictionary as an excellent resource for sociolinguists interested in the sociopolitical use of language in general, and to those working on political discourse and the discourse of political violence in particular."-Journal of Sociolinguistics
"Philip Herbst is definitely on to something as he relentlessly analyzes the manipulation of language about violent political actions. Talking Terrorism is a well-researched and thoughtful book that challenges the reader to rethink assumptions about buzzwords that pass before our eyes and funnel into our ears every day. While the news media seem to thrive on unthinking repetition of easy cliches and stereotypes grouped around rhetoric about "terrorism," Herbst invites us to think more deeply about routine words and their demagogic uses."-Norman Solomon co-author of Target Iraq: What the News Media Didn't Tell You Executive Director, Institute for Public Accuracy
[a] dictionary with a social and political objective: to explore how supposedly civilized people, groups, and governments the world over use language to provide a moral justification for violence....Herbst sticks to his bias-busting agenda without ever falling into the trap of political correctness or taking sides on an issue....This title is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.-Library Journal
[T]his is in many ways an unconventional book, and a book of great courage and insight. While it is not the usual fare of linguistics courses, I can certainly see using it in a lot of the work we do. Its definitions can make for lively class discussions in semantics and pragmatics courses, and many of its themes and terms have bearing for sociolinguistsics as well. As linguists and sociolinguists, we need full awareness of how we deform language and how it, in turn, deforms us. Talking Terrorism is an invaluable wake-up call.-Language in Society
Advanced students doing research on political theory, current topics or the media might find this work valuable. Certainly, some of the terms would be difficult to research on a filtered Internet system.-School Library Journal
An excellent introduction to the topic of terrorism and use of language by politicians frames the discussion of the terms....a fascinating and necessary addition to available material on language as well as on terrorism. Recommended for academic and public libraries.-Booklist/RBB
Talking Terrorism is a splendid foray into an area heretofore unexplored. The work deals with the language that eulogizes violence and promotes bigotry, hatred, and death; it uncovers the truth behind lies and propaganda. Language can shape a nation's identity or its predilection toward violence or response to it. Herbst provides insight into how language can define or deform political reality, yet his book is not a study of the socio-politico-economic events that coalesce or galvanize a people or individual to commit violent acts. Talking Terrorism is original, refreshing, and insightful. It attempts to discern the why of terrorism and political violence from the perspective of language. Highly recommended. All readership levels.-Choice
This reference book provides a detailed treatment of the language of terrorism from political and historical perspectives....The alphabetically arranged entries are comprehensive and contain admirable period coverage....has an excellent easy-to-use index and a wonderful bibliography, as well as an exceptional cross-reference system....a valuable source and reference tool, especially for high school and public libraries.-VOYA
"a dictionary with a social and political objective: to explore how supposedly civilized people, groups, and governments the world over use language to provide a moral justification for violence....Herbst sticks to his bias-busting agenda without ever falling into the trap of political correctness or taking sides on an issue....This title is highly recommended for academic and public libraries."-Library Journal
"This is in many ways an unconventional book, and a book of great courage and insight. While it is not the usual fare of linguistics courses, I can certainly see using it in a lot of the work we do. Its definitions can make for lively class discussions in semantics and pragmatics courses, and many of its themes and terms have bearing for sociolinguistsics as well. As linguists and sociolinguists, we need full awareness of how we deform language and how it, in turn, deforms us. Talking Terrorism is an invaluable wake-up call."-Language in Society
"[a] dictionary with a social and political objective: to explore how supposedly civilized people, groups, and governments the world over use language to provide a moral justification for violence....Herbst sticks to his bias-busting agenda without ever falling into the trap of political correctness or taking sides on an issue....This title is highly recommended for academic and public libraries."-Library Journal
"[T]his is in many ways an unconventional book, and a book of great courage and insight. While it is not the usual fare of linguistics courses, I can certainly see using it in a lot of the work we do. Its definitions can make for lively class discussions in semantics and pragmatics courses, and many of its themes and terms have bearing for sociolinguistsics as well. As linguists and sociolinguists, we need full awareness of how we deform language and how it, in turn, deforms us. Talking Terrorism is an invaluable wake-up call."-Language in Society
"Advanced students doing research on political theory, current topics or the media might find this work valuable. Certainly, some of the terms would be difficult to research on a filtered Internet system."-School Library Journal
"An excellent introduction to the topic of terrorism and use of language by politicians frames the discussion of the terms....a fascinating and necessary addition to available material on language as well as on terrorism. Recommended for academic and public libraries."-Booklist/RBB
"This reference book provides a detailed treatment of the language of terrorism from political and historical perspectives....The alphabetically arranged entries are comprehensive and contain admirable period coverage....has an excellent easy-to-use index and a wonderful bibliography, as well as an exceptional cross-reference system....a valuable source and reference tool, especially for high school and public libraries."-VOYA
"Talking Terrorism is a splendid foray into an area heretofore unexplored. The work deals with the language that eulogizes violence and promotes bigotry, hatred, and death; it uncovers the truth behind lies and propaganda. Language can shape a nation's identity or its predilection toward violence or response to it. Herbst provides insight into how language can define or deform political reality, yet his book is not a study of the socio-politico-economic events that coalesce or galvanize a people or individual to commit violent acts. Talking Terrorism is original, refreshing, and insightful. It attempts to discern the why of terrorism and political violence from the perspective of language. Highly recommended. All readership levels."-Choice

Author Bio

PHILIP HERBST is an author and editor whose previous books, The Color of Words and Wimmin, Wimps, and Wallflowers, dealt with how language defines social and political reality. A cultural anthropologist, Herbst has taught at the State University of New York, Potsdam, was a Visiting Scholar in both the Anthropology and the Gender Studies departments at Northwestern University, and has conducted research under the auspices of the National Institutes for Health and the Southern Poverty Law Center.