Ecolinguistics, Language, Ecology and the Stories We Live By

The increasingly rapid destruction of ecology that support life is calling into question some of the fundamental stories that we live by stories of unlimited economic growth, consumerism, progress, individualism, success, and the human domination of nature. Ecolinguistics shows how linguistic analysis can help reveal the stories we live by, open them up to question, and contribute to the search for new stories. Bringing together the latest ecolinguistic studies with new theoretical insights and practical analyses, this book charts a new course for ecolinguistics as an engaged form of critical inquiry. Featuring:

 1. A framework for understanding the theory of ecolinguistics and applying it practically in real life

2. An exploration of diverse topics from consumerism in lifestyle magazines to Japanese nature haiku

3. A comprehensive glossary giving concise descriptions of the linguistic terms used in the book discourse analysis of a wide range of texts including newspapers, magazines, advertisements, films, non-fiction books and visual images.

This is essential reading for undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers working in the areas of Discourse Analysis and Language and Ecology, as well as anyone interested in the search for new stories to live by.

Arran Stibbe is a Reader in Ecological Linguistics at the University of Gloucestershire where he teaches ecolinguistics, discourse analysis, ethics and language, and communication for leadership.

The link between ecology and language is that how humans treat each other and the natural world is influenced by our thoughts, concepts, ideas, ideologies, and worldviews, and these in turn are shaped through language. It is through language that economic systems are built, and when those systems are seen to lead to immense suffering and ecological destruction, it is through language that they are resisted and new forms of the economy brought into being. It is through language that consumerist identities are built and lives orientated towards accumulation, and it is through language that consumerism is resisted and people are inspired to ‘be more rather than have more’. It is through language that the natural world is mentally reduced to objects or resources to be conquered, and it is through language that people can be encouraged to respect and care for the systems that support life.

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Arran Stibbe-Ecolinguistics_ Language, Ecology and the Stories We Live By-Routledge (2015)