Language And Racism

Abstract

This study explores the intricate connections between language and racism, grounded in the framework of "modern race" and the concept of racism within the context of European modernity. Here, race is understood as a social system that has historically evolved through multiple forms, classifying individuals based on physical traits and racialized constructs. Within modern frameworks, race is deeply embedded in social structures and the global order, inextricably tied to colonial processes and racialized slavery driven by capitalist imperatives. Understanding race is crucial for analyzing how racial categories are organized and perceived across diverse social and cultural contexts. The research examines "ethnicity" as a concept that reflects differences at multiple levels—such as phenotypic and ethnic distinctions—and how these differences intersect to shape social and cultural dynamics. It highlights how racism has influenced the formation of European modernity, positioning modernity itself as a racialized project in which racist ideologies intertwine with notions of sovereignty and citizenship. The study also underscores language’s pivotal role in perpetuating racism by enabling linguistic and cultural hegemony, and how racist language ideologies reinforce racial hierarchies in society. Two key approaches to studying language and racism are discussed: "racial linguistics" and "Indigenous and decolonial frameworks," each contributing to our understanding of how language and racism intersect. The research concludes that race and racism are profoundly entangled with language, and addressing racial injustices in society requires a deep understanding of this relationship. It calls for further interdisciplinary research to better comprehend how language sustains racist ideologies and how linguistic and cultural reforms can challenge systemic racism