Adam Hodges
When Words Trump Politics
Resisting a Hostile Regime of Language
Stanford UP, 2019
What's inside?
Donald Trumpâs bombastic and misleading rhetoric is reshaping Americaâs political landscape.Â
Recommendation
How much does a politicianâs rhetorical style matter? According to linguistic anthropologist Adam Hodges, the link between language and power is fundamental: By leading the way in how the media and electorate discuss and debate ideas, a leader can systematically obstruct the truth. Hodgesâ book takes a close look at the rhetorical techniques Trump and his associates use to promote a politics of division and lies. The author leverages those discrete examples into larger arguments about why language matters for political power and why the electorate must stay informed to preserve democracy.
Summary
About the Author
Adam Hodges received his PhD in linguistic anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder and has taught at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a regular contributor to Anthropology News and the author of The âWar on Terrorâ Narrative (2011).
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