Language, Negotiation and Peace: The Use of English in Conflict Resolution

摘要

The motto of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) encapsulates the argument of this book: 'Nation shall speak peace unto nation'. The role of contemporary English, Friedrich argues, is to enable nations to speak peace to one another, more effectively than ever before. In spite of her title, Friedrich is not discussing language in general. She is concerned with uses of English. We can therefore relieve her of the impossible argument that language is inherently pacifist. Language is neutral and may be used for anything: war (black propaganda), football (menaces on terraces), sexual debasement (pornography) and so on. Equally, language may be used for cooperation and for peace. But the author is making a particular case for English, which she thinks is now in a compelling position to bring about a peaceful world.