The latest events in Palestine have revealed to the world just how powerful language can be, be it in the mainstream media, on social media, or even in how we describe and speak about a political and humanitarian issue amongst ourselves.
Wording is powerfully used by policymakers and persons of influence to frame events, and to subliminally construct a narrative. We must be careful in interpreting this language, which highlights the power of words in changing narratives. By learning what to look out for and how to accurately identify misleading language, we can use this force constructively by using language that reflects the reality of the situation – maybe even a language that advocates for the perspective of the oppressed.
Today, we have chosen to analyse some of the most prominent and widely used words in the discourse surrounding Palestine in the media.
To bring real change, we need to call the situation what it is. See misleading language being used on social media, or in the news? Call out your friends, your policymakers, and even your family members. We must all unlearn the language of the oppressors, and instead familiarise our tongues with the language of the resistance.
For more resources and reading material on Palestine, click here.