Dangerous Words: Language and Politics in the Pacific

Paperback. 9" X 6". xi, 284pp. Mild shelf wear to pictorial paper wraps with light rubbing to covers and creasing to edges. Previous owner's name in pencil at half-title page. Penciled underlining and notation to pages--particularly in the first half of books. Notation does not obscure text. Binding is sound. ABOUT THIS BOOK: Dangerous words, hard words, fighting words, straight talk, sweet talk, wrapped talk, allegory, words that are moving, respect vocabulary, figurative language, role distance: these are the words which inform the various papers in this unique collection of viewpoints on the intricacies and subtleties of verbal art in Pacific cultures. The basic argument in all the essays is that talk makes a political difference. Each contribution shows how the styles, structures and situations of language use in various Pacific societies actively shape not only the political contours of daily life in these communities but also broader understandings of and sentiments about the social world.(Publisher).