Politics, Lies and Conspiracy Theories: A Cognitive Linguistic Perspective

by Marcel Danesi

Overview

Politics, Lies and Conspiracy Theories: A Cognitive Linguistic Perspective shows how language influences mechanisms of cognition, perception, and belief, and by extension its power to manipulate thoughts and beliefs.

This exciting and original work is the first to apply cognitive linguistics to the analysis of political lies and conspiracy theories, both of which have flourished in the internet age and which many argue are threatening democracy. It unravels the verbal mechanisms that make these "different truths" so effective and proliferative, dissecting the verbal structures (metaphor, irony, connotative implications, etc.) of a variety of real-life cases concerning politicians, conspiracy theorists, and influencers. Marcel Danesi goes on to demonstrate how these linguistic structures "switch on" or "switch off" alternative mind worlds.

This book is essential reading for students of cognitive linguistics and will enrich the studies of any student or researcher in language and linguistics more broadly, as well as discourse analysis, rhetoric, or political science.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032393124
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/29/2023
Pages:	126
Sales rank:	384,464
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Marcel Danesi is a Professor Emeritus of linguistic anthropology and semiotics at the University of Toronto.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Lies and Conspiracy Theories

Prologue

Lies and Lying

Lies and Hate Speech

Conspiracy Theories

Metaphor and Deception

Epilogue

2. Deconstructing Political Lies

Prologue

Conceptual Metaphors

Metaphorical Framing

Politically Motivated Lies

The Korzybski Effect

Epilogue

3. Da Vinci Code Effects

Prologue

Conspiracy Thinking

Conspiracy Theories

Mind Control

Cognitive Dissonance

Epilogue

4. Fake News and Pseudo-Events

Prologue

Fake News

Disinformation

Pseudo-Events

Epilogue

5. Mythic Lies

Prologue

Mythologies

Alternative History

Central Metaphors

Epilogue

6. Channels of Spread

Prologue

The Spoken and Written Word

Social Media

Epilogue

7. The Cognitive Linguistic Perspective

Prologue

The Central Problem

Neural Circuitry

Turning the Switch Off

Epilogue

References

Index