Semantische Kämpfe - Macht und Sprache in den Wissenschaften

Dominance and power are also exercised through semantics. When viewing language as a means for asserting certain views on controversial topics in intellectual domains (e.g. medicine, economics, architecture, natural science, history, law, etc.), quasi disputes arise within debates among professionals with regard to appropriate terminologies and definitions, in other words, 'semantic battles' take place. Language directs the constitution of facts within the framework of knowledge; knowledge is developed through language. The contributions in the volume examine the forms and functions of the discourse of professionals in various scientific fields.


Ekkehard Felder, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg.