Language as power: like a word shakes democracy!

Language as power: like a word shakes democracy!

On April 25, 2025, the challenges of dealing with language in political communication were pointed out on the occasion of the foundation of the "The value of democracy" platform. This platform combines literary associations from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and South Tyrol. In an accompanying blog, authors deal with harmful terms that can influence the democratic system. A particularly controversial term used in the Austrian National Council is "reversing". This topic was taken up by Karl-Markus Gauß, who carried out an analysis of the term in the historical context and its current use. The National Council President is responsible for clarifying a possible call to order whether the term is to be classified as reprehensible.

In the course of the debate about the use of the term “reversing”, the National Council President emphasized that the term could also be used in a different context. A member of parliament withdrew the floor, but the language remains in circulation and has an impact on social ways of thinking. This throws a light on the trivialization inhumane language use and the context of the current election campaign in Vienna.

Language as a tool of democracy

In this context, it is important to consider the role of language as a powerful instrument in a democracy. It not only expresses information, but also social identities and political attitudes. Public institutions play a crucial role here because they negotiate and influence linguistic conventions. The digital change has accelerated the debates about linguistic diversity and integrated many actors into the discussion. Linguistic diversity is perceived as a strength because it includes minorities in political opinion formation.

However, language can also be misused for populist manipulation, which confronts the democratic principles. Language is often perceived as a neutral and static system, but it is dynamic. It reflects social contexts and positions. This can be seen, for example, in the different language choice in the designation of topics such as the rescue of people in distress.

The importance of linguistic diversity

The discussion about gender-sensitive language also shows the need to include non-male people. Special characters such as gender star and colon should make gender diversity visible. Generic masculina can be interpreted as negative towards sexual diversity. Meanings of terms are not static, but are subject to constant change and negotiation in language use. Terms such as "Miss" have gained devaluation in the context of emancipation.

It is crucial that the names are accepted by those affected, especially minorities. Political language steering can prevent discrimination and contribute to equality. Public institutions are called to take on an active role in linguistic standardization. Communication in digital media has expanded the opportunities for living linguistic change and included more players in the debate.

Overall, it turns out that linguistic diversity is not an indication of a decline in language, but reflects the potential of a lively culture of debate, which is of central importance for a functioning democracy. ots.at and Together-im-dialog.de provide valuable perspectives.