The “War on Terrorism” Comparing the Linguistic Formulations of Japanese, Russian and Western Officials Matt Bonham Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

The “War on Terrorism”Comparing the Linguistic Formulations ofJapanese, Russian and Western Officials

Matt BonhamMaxwell School of Syracuse University

Daniel HeradstveitNorwegian Institute of International Affairs, Oslo

Slide 1

Rhetoric of Terrorism

The Maxwell School

1. Figures of speech are familiar and easily recognized.2. Evoke the recognition of equivalences to which we are committed, e.g., the “war on terror,” or3. Suggest new more challenging equivalences, e.g., the “Axis of Evil.”

Slide 2


President George W. Bush said among other things: “Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts… These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.”

1. This is how President Bush put the “war on terrorism” on the international agenda2. But how does one make war on terrorism or any other “ism”?

Slide 3


President Bush on September 11, 2001Play Excerpt of the Speech

1. A major problem for the coalition fighting terrorism is how to define what they are fighting against.

2. If there is no agreement on the term, oppressive regimes will add their own separatists, insurgents, and dissidents to the list of “international terrorists”

Slide 4


Defining Terrorism

1. One of the problems is that the “ism” suffix is usually associated with an ideology, such as Marxism or communism2. But “terrorism” is not an ideology3. Instead, it is regarded as a method that is used against civilian targets

Slide 5


Terrorism as an “Ism”

1. The term is used to designate people who are doing things to others, the victims, for a variety of reasons.2. Here both the perpetrators and the victims are important in the definition.3.The perpetrators are members of non-governmental organizations and the victims are civilians

Slide 6


1. To help clarify this problem we can turn to the continental semiotic theory of Ferdinand de Saussure2. Saussure was born in Geneva in 1857. His contribution, Course of Linguistic General, was published after his death in 1916

Slide 7


A Semiotic Approach

1. For Saussure, a sign consists of a signifier and a signified2. The relationship between the signifier and the signified is referred to as signification3. This is represented in the Saussurean diagram by the arrows 4. The horizontal line marking the two elements of the sign is referred to as the bar

Slide 8


A Semiotic Approach

1. The word 'Open' (when it is invested with meaning by someone who encounters it on a shop doorway) is a sign consisting of the following:2. A signifier, the word “open” 3. A signified concept—that the shop is “open” for business4. A sign must have both a signifier and a signified. You cannot have a totally meaningless signifier or a completely formless signified

Slide 9


Example: “Open”

1. The same signifier (the word “open”) could stand for a different signified (and thus be a different sign), if it were on a push-button inside an elevator (“push to open door”) 2. Similarly, many signifiers could stand for the concept “open” (for instance, on top of a packing carton, a small outline of a box with an open flap for “open this end”)3. Again, with each unique pairing constituting a different sign

Slide 10


Example: Open (continued)

1. In the case of terrorism, the signifier, “terrorism” is used widely by many including the governments of the USA, Russia, and Sri Lanka 2. But the signified, the perpetrators and what they do are quite different: Al-Qaida, the Chechens, and the Tamil Tigers

Slide 11


Terrorism

1. Because the designation of signified depends upon the speaker, the concept of terrorism is seems to be subjective and fluid.2. The signified switches radically both by context and over time3. The only aspect that is stable is the signifier, “Terrorism”

Slide 12


Terrorism

Al-Qaida Chechen Rebels

Tamil Tigers

1. The rhetoric of terrorism is being waged with weapons that are loose, diffuse, and highly flexible2. The signifier is clear-cut, but the signified is not.3. Thus, the “war on terrorism” is largely a rhetorical instrument—a form of political communication that packs an emotional punch

Slide 13


The War on Terrorism As Political Communication

Slide 14


The Japanese Understanding Of the “War on Terrorism”

Neither the signifier nor the signified are clear cut

Slide 15


Japanese Do Not Distinguish between “Terror” and “Terrorism”

1.“Fight against terrorism” ( テロリズムとの戦い ) 2. “Terror” or “Terrorism” ( テロリズムとの闘い )

Slide 16


1. “War is associated with military actions. However, the prevention or suppression of terrorist attacks like London or Madrid is ‛fight.’”

2. “The Prime Minister selects his words carefully. ‘Sensou’ is a strong word. The Prime Minister chose the word, ‘fight’ very carefully.”

3. “In the Japanese context ‛war’ is considered as conflict between sovereign states. When fighting against al Qaeda it is a ‛fight,’ because al Qaeda is not sovereign.”

4. “In the Japanese context because section on of Article 9 in the Japanese Constitution renounces the use of armed forces…as a means of settling disputes, the Afghan case cannot be a ‘war.’”

5. “Basically we don’t distinguish between fight and war. It’s an internal matter for the people. For us, the bureaucrats, it’s a little bit different. I guess you already know the peaceful constitution.”

*Interviews with Japanese officials 25-27 April 2006

Japanese Prefer “Fight” Rather than “War”*

Lakoff and Johnson argue that our experience withphysical objects provide the basis for ontological metaphors, that is metaphors about “being.”For example, we often view inflation as an entity:

“We need to combat inflation”“Inflation is taking its toll at the gasoline pump”“If there is much more inflation, we will not survive”“Inflation makes me sick”

Slide 17


War on Terrorism: Ontological Metaphor

This discussion is based on a book by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Chapters 6 and 7.

Viewing inflation as an entity enables us to refer to it, quantifyit, identify a particular aspect, see it as a cause, and act with respect to it

Nevertheless, viewing a non-physical thing as an entity does not allow us to comprehend much about it. To do this, the metaphor has to be elaborated to specify different kinds of objects

e.g., “The mind is a brittle object” (His ego is fragile.)

Slide 18



This discussion is based on George Lakoff and Mark Johnson, Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Chapters 6 and 7.

Ontological metaphors like these are so natural that they are usually taken as self-evident, direct descriptions of mental phenomena.

We believe the statement, “He cracked under pressure” to be either true or false. The fact that it is metaphorical never occurs to us…and we do not bother to analyze its appropriateness as a metaphor.

Slide 19




Personification

“Inflation is our biggest enemy”“Inflation has outwitted our best economists”“Inflation has us pinned against the wall”

Here inflation is personified, but it is not merely,

“inflation is a person.” It is more specific: “Inflation is an adversary”

Slide 20




Personification

The metaphor gives us not only a way of thinking about inflation, but a way of acting toward it:

Inflation is an adversary that can hurt us, steal from our families, and even destroy us.

Therefore, we must act decisively by declaring war on inflation, setting targets, calling for sacrifices etc.

Slide 21




International terrorism is a despicable act that threatens the lives and lifestyles of people all over the world and the peace and security of all countries of the world.” (8 October 2001)

Here, terrorism, a non-physical thing, is treated as an entity orthing that has an objective reality.

Slide 22



Fr. Prime Minister Koizumi

Like inflation, this view of terrorism enables us to suggests how to act.

As Koizumi pointed out, we must “…prevent and eradicate international terrorism.” (8 October 2001)

Slide 23



Slide 24


War on Terrorism Ontological Metaphor

Note also here that another metaphor is evoked: “terrorism is contagion”As in the case of disease, we must “actively contribute to international efforts to prevent and eradicate terrorism.” (8 October 2001)

“Such unforgivable acts challenge the dignity of humanity as a whole. …the international community stands united against the challenge of inhumane terrorism.” (21 October 2001)

“The fight against terrorism, which is a grave challenge to civilized society, is an issue of our own as we must ensure the safety of our people and we must be proactive in acting to prevent and eradicate terrorism in solidarity with the inter-national community.” (4 February 2002)

Slide 25


The War on Terrorism as Ontological Metaphor

Although the treatment of terrorism as an entity helps us to talk about terrorism, it does little to increase our understanding of the phenomenon.

Putin also rejects the metaphor, “War on Terrorism”He always uses the phrase, борьба с терроризмомThis is variously (officially) translated as fight, combat, or war against terrorism.”

Slide 26


War on Terrorism Ontological Metaphor President V. Putin

Наше сотрудничество развивается, и развивается, по нашим оценкам, успешно. Мы сотрудничаем совершенно в практических областях, очень важных для всего международного сообщества, и прежде всего это борьба с терроризмом.

Our cooperation is growing, and, as we see it, it is growing well. We are working together in practical areas of great importance for the international community, above all, in the fight against terrorism.

Beginning of Meeting with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (October 26, 2006) Slide 27



Examples

Для нас в России борьба с терроризмом — это не пустой звук. Сегодня, в эти дни исполняется как раз год трагическим событиям,связанным с захватом заложников террористамив Москве в театральном центре на Дубровке. Это тяжелая рана, которая еще долго не зарубцуется на нашем сердце.

For Russia, the war on terrorism is not just empty words. It is now one year since the tragic events when terrorists took hostages in Moscow at the theatrical centre at Dubrovka. This is a serious wound which will take a long time to heal in our hearts.

The Opening of the Military Base in Kant (October 23, 2003)

Slide 28



1.“‘War against terrorism’ is a propaganda label, while ‘fight against terrorism’ is something that deals with real processes.” 2. “The distinction between ‘terror’ and ‘terrorism’ is not quite Russian. It is purely attributable to the political structure of English.”3. “Experts in Russia do not use ‘terror’ and ‘the war on terrorism’ as something big and vague. They prefer to talk about concrete situations.”4. “Hamas and Hezbollah are interpreted as terrorist by the USA, but not by the Russian Federation. Hamas is fighting for the independence of Palestine.”

Slide 29


Russians Also Prefer “Fight” to “War”*

*Interviews with Russian officials 1-2 December 2007

1. Figures of speech contribute to the cognitive dimension of meaning 2. They help us to recognize the equivalences to which we are committed3. They also suggest new equivalences: they help us to be creative4. The “war on terrorism” is an example of a figure of speech that describes our commitments5. However this phrase raises problems, because “terrorism” is a means, not an ideology

Slide 29


Conclusions

6. A semiotic approach can help us to clarify this problem by distinguishing between signifiers and signified 7. The “war on terrorism” is also political communication based on an ontological metaphor 8. Like other ontological metaphors, we do not think of it as metaphor 9. Although the metaphor helps us to talk about terrorism, it does little to increase our understanding

Slide 30


Conclusions

The “War on Terrorism” Comparing the Linguistic Formulations of Japanese, Russian and Western Officials Matt Bonham Maxwell School of Syracuse University.

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