Language and Neoliberalism

by Marnie Holborow

Language and Neoliberalism examines the ways in which neoliberalism, or the ideology of market rule, finds expression in language. In this groundbreaking original study, Holborow shows at once the misleading character of ideological meaning and the underlying social reality from which that meaning emerges. In universities, it is now the norm to use terms like entrepreneurial and business partnerships. How have these terms become a core component of education and gained such force? Markets have become, metaphorically, a power in their own right. They now tell governments how to act and warn them against too much public spending. Post-crash, the capitalist market continues to be crisis-prone, and in that context the neoliberal ideology remains contested. Free of jargon and assuming no specialist knowledge, this book will strike a chord internationally by showing how neoliberal ideology has, literally, gone global in language. Drawing on Vološinov and Bakhtin, Williams and Gramsci, and introducing concepts from Marxist political economy, Language and Neoliberalism is essential reading for all interested in the intersection of linguistics/applied linguistics and politics.

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2015

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bringing together the complex changes that we have witnessed in society and the economy over the last 30 years and the way that we discuss and describe our lives is no easy task. In this volume, Marnie Holborow not only achieves this task, but provides copious examples of language use from daily personal and social life and helps us to understand the relationship between the language that we use and larger issues such as the economic crash of 2008, policies of austerity and the promotion of entrepreneurs as major instigators of social change.
The book divides largely into two parts. The main focus of the first part is to outline the features of the neoliberal economy and its effects on social structure and language. The second part focuses on a 'case study' of the key word 'entrepreneur' in Ireland in the early 21st century and how policies surrounding this word have had a major impact on life and language in Ireland.