37.1189, Books: Abortion in Ireland: Statham and Ringrow (2026)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-1189. Tue Mar 24 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.1189, Books: Abortion in Ireland: Statham and Ringrow (2026)

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Date: 20-Mar-2026
From: Lucy Trotter [lucy.trotter at bloomsbury.com]
Subject: Abortion in Ireland: Statham and Ringrow (2026)


Title: Abortion in Ireland
Subtitle: The Language of the Campaign for Reproductive Rights
Publication Year: 2026

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
           http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/
Book URL:
https://www.bloomsbury.com/abortion-in-ireland-9781350337633/

Author(s): Simon Statham & Helen Ringrow

Hardback, ISBN: 9781350337633, Price: £95.00

Abstract:

Providing an in-depth analysis of the diverse discourse types present
in the fight for women's bodily autonomy in Ireland over four decades,
this book explores discourse from the imposition of the Eighth
Amendment in 1983 to its repeal in 2018 and beyond, adopting a
mixed-methods critical linguistic approach.
By applying models of analysis from across the spectrum of critical
linguistics, the book maximises the potential of the analytical models
prominent in critical linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis
(CDA), in turn maximising the number of discourse arenas available for
investigation.
Interdisciplinary both in terms of methodology and data, the chapters
analyse a diverse range of societal texts including traditional
political campaign discourse and cross-generational pro-choice
leaflets. The book also assesses the utilisation of pro-choice voices
in the contemporary discourse arenas of social media and broadcast
entertainment, and examines politico-legal arenas such as submissions
to the Citizens' Assembly and parliamentary speeches. It also
scrutinises the abortion rights campaign in the north of Ireland
through interviews with a range of campaigners.
In addressing the specific complex issue of abortion rights and
exposing relevant data to diverse linguistic scrutiny, the book
showcases the methodological rigour of critical linguistics in
original research. Against the backdrop of ongoing reproductive rights
debates in the USA, Europe and internationally, this book is a
comprehensive analysis of the linguistic strategies of a major social
event which continues to resonate across the world.

Linguistic Field(s): Anthropological Linguistics
                     Discourse Analysis
                     General Linguistics
                     Sociolinguistics




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