Political Correctness and Self-Censorship in Anglo-Saxon Cultures

master's thesis

• Author: Ivana Kačavenda
• Mentor: Marija Andraka (mentor)
• Mentor: Lovorka Zergollern-Miletić (sumentor)
• Committee member: Silvija Hanžić Deda (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marija Andraka (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Lovorka Zergollern-Miletić (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Teacher Education; (Chair of English Language Teacher Education); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2020-11-23, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: HUMANISTIC SCIENCES; Philology
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Political Science

Abstract

The purpose of this final thesis is to define and identify the history and origin of the term ‘political correctness’. This thesis also deals with the usage of political correctness and self-censorship in the Anglo-Saxon cultures, specifically the United States of America, and the United Kingdom. It illustrates their similarities and differences throughout their attitudes towards multiculturalism, racism, religion, and other aspects of diversity in political and social settings, as well as in the entertainment industry and literature. The thesis primarily focuses on cultural and political aspects of this highly complex concept, by portraying crucial events and political decisions which ultimately lead to various sociolinguistic changes. Language changes are depicted through an analysis of semantic changes in the English language, and coined phrases and terms that were introduced as a consequence of political correctness and its need to neutralise the language. At the end of the final thesis there is a detailed outline of the seven discourse levels, which best depicts the versatility of the English language. It displays how even with the demand to restrict certain parts of speech, there are certain settings that require it more than others.

Abstract (croatian)

Svrha je ovog diplomskog rada definirati i identificirati povijest i podrijetlo pojma politička korektnost. Rad se prije svega osvrće na nastanak i položaj političke korektnosti i samocenzure u dvjema anglsaksonskim kulturama – Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama i Ujedinjenom Kraljevstvu. Ilustriraju se njihove sličnosti i razlike kroz stavove prema multikulturalizmu, rasizmu, religiji i drugim aspektima različitosti u političkom i društvenom okruženju, kao i u industriji zabave i književnosti. Rad se prije svega bavi kulturnim i političkim aspektom tog vrlo složenog pojma, prikazujući presudne događaje i političke odluke koje su u konačnici dovele do sociolingvističkih promjena. Jezične preinake prikazane su analizom semantičkih izmjena u engleskom jeziku i njegovih novo skovanih fraza i izraza koji su uvedeni kao posljedica političke korektnosti i potrebe za neutralizacijom jezika. Na kraju rada nalazi se i detaljan prikaz sedam razina diskursa, koji najbolje prikazuje prilagodljivost engleskog jezika. U njemu je vidljivo kako određena društvena okruženja i situacije iziskuju veći stupanj restrikcije u govoru i diskursu nego neki drugi.

• Keywords: political correctness; freedom of speech; language discourse; Anglo-Saxon cultures; the UK; the USA; self-censorship
• Keywords (croatian): politička korektnost; sloboda govora; diskurs; anglosaksonske kulture; UK; SAD; samocenzura
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:147:566777
• Study programme: Title: Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study of Primary Teacher Education and Integrated Undergraduate and Graduate University Programme of Study for Primary Teacher Education with English and German Language; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja (magistar/magistra primarnog obrazovanja)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Access restricted to students and staff of home institution
• Created on: 2021-01-25 13:04:28