It’s the political season in Australia again, and the air is filled with the sound of dog whistles and dead cats hitting tables.
For this show, we turn our attention to political language. What makes a good slogan? What’s behind the Liberal government’s “illiterate immigrant” meme? And what words and phrases should we be looking out for?
Political language analyst Howie Manns talks to Daniel, Ben, and Kylie on this episode of Talk the Talk.
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Cutting Room Floor
While we’re waiting for Ben to show up, Kylie tells about her terrible day, and Daniel tells about his amazing night. Then things get deeply political.
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Show notes
Online Etymology Dictionary: Filibuster
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=filibuster
Language of women versus men: ‘Wonderful’ and ‘thankful’ versus ‘battle’ and ‘enemy’
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160525161919.htm
Women are Warmer but No Less Assertive than Men: Gender and Language on Facebook
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155885
From donkey votes to dog whistles, our election language has a long and political history
https://theconversation.com/from-donkey-votes-to-dog-whistles-our-election-language-has-a-long-and-political-history-58054
Good political slogans and this year’s, meh, yawn, failings
https://theconversation.com/good-political-slogans-and-this-years-meh-yawn-failings-59964
The ‘wells’, ‘looks’ and vibe of Australian debating: language to look for on Sunday
https://theconversation.com/the-wells-looks-and-vibe-of-australian-debating-language-to-look-for-on-sunday-60105
Election FactCheck: are many refugees illiterate and innumerate?
https://theconversation.com/election-factcheck-are-many-refugees-illiterate-and-innumerate-59584
Election 2016: How accurate are Peter Dutton’s comments on ‘illiterate’ refugees?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-18/election-2016-peter-dutton-comments-illiterate-refugees/7425642
Election 2016: Peter Dutton urged to ‘take a trip back’ to refugee camp after literacy remarks
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-18/dutton-should-27take-a-trip-back-to-lebanon27/7426158
Barack Obama removes ‘oriental’ and ‘negro’ from federal law
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/president-obama-removes-oriental-and-negro-from-federal-law-a7041701.html
Dames at Sea’s “Singapore Sue” Problem
http://www.onstageblog.com/columns/2015/9/25/dames-at-seas-sinapore-sue-problem
Why is this Broadway musical featuring a racist song?
http://www.metro.us/new-york/why-is-this-broadway-musical-featuring-a-racist-song/zsJoiw—nAKKk7jqo5kY/
Washington State banned the term in 2002: Preferred terminology in government documents.
http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=1.20.130
“Oriental:” Death of a Semi-Slur
http://dialectblog.com/2013/09/19/oriental-death-of-a-semi-slur/
Image credits: http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/7457552-3×2-700×467.jpg
Transcript
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