antilocution

[Laurence Horn]

On Jun 12, 2012, at 10:31 AM, Arnold Zwicky wrote:

> On Jun 12, 2012, at 7:03 AM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
>
>> Not in OED.
>>
>> http://shine.yahoo.com/work-money/comes-politics-more-racist-think-185600847.html
>> :
>>
>> "The top hits for the top racially charged searches are nearly all textbook
>> examples of antilocution, a majority group's sharing stereotype-based jokes
>> using coarse language outside a minority group's presence."
>
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antilocution
>
> Antilocution is a term defined by psychologist Gordon Allport in his book The Nature of Prejudice, 1954. Antilocution is defined as verbal remarks against a person, group or community, which are not addressed directly to the target. Generally referred to as "talking behind someone's back," the impact of this is often overlooked. However, because antilocution creates an environment where discrimination is acceptable, it frequently progresses to other more damaging forms of prejudiced behavior. It's use is overshadowed by the more modern term Hate speech which has almost the same meaning.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
I'll have to differ with the Wikipedianist on this one; the meaning of "hate speech", which is canonically directed at a listener, is far from "almost the same" as that of "antilocution", which by definition isn't (although presumably there may be an overhearer from the slimed group within earshot).  The latter is indeed something like "hate-speech-behind-someone's-back", and I think antilocution is a (non-ideal) label for a (sadly) useful concept.

LH

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