Lingua Inglese III

Università Degli Studi “G.
d’Annunzio”
Chieti –Pescara
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DIPARTIMENTO DI LINGUE, LETTERATURE E

CULTURE MODERNE
Corso di laurea in
Lingue e Letterature Straniere
LINGUA INGLESE III

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Docente Afferente del Corso: Appunti di:
Dott.ssa Emanuela Ettorre Rosa Pia de Martino
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ANNO ACCADEMICO 2024/2025

PREMESSA
Il PDF contiene il materiale relativo al corso di 7CFU di Lingua Inglese III per l’anno accademico
2024/2025 per il CdS L-11. Dispone di un indice interattivo con collegamenti ipertestuali: cliccando
su ciascun titolo è possibile accedere direttamente alla pagina corrispondente. Gli appunti integrano
le slides della docente, del suo assistente (Buonvivere Lorenzo) e quanto detto durante le lezioni.
Non essendo state caricate da nessuna parte, ho fornito un link per consultare le slides qualora fosse
necessario, anche se le ho già integrate nel testo.
Codice Teams: l6r683x –su quesy’ultimo è caricato il Syllabus e Wodak, R. "Critical Discourse
Analysis/Studies" in Routledge Companion to English Studies (2nd ed.), ed. by Constant Leung and
Jo Lewcowicz, London and New York, Routledge, pp. 31-44
Il manuale di riferimento è Ecolinguistics: Language, Ecology and the Stories We Live By di Stibbe,
A. (2nd ed.), Londra e New York, Routledge, 2021.
Per registrarti al corso "The Stories We Live By," visita questo link. Il corso offre materiali legati al libro
Ecolinguistics: Language, Ecology and the Stories We Live By di Arran Stibbe (2ª ed., Routledge, 2021).
→Per l’esame scritto, che prevede circa cinque domande a risposta aperta, incluse domande di
comprensione del testo e domande teoriche, è consentito l’uso del dizionario monolingua di inglese. -
→Per l’esame orale, è necessario scegliere due tra gli articoli trattati. La docente alternava tra la
spiegazione del materiale per lo scritto e quello per l’orale, motivo per cui ho deciso di separare i due
contenuti, indicando che la lezione segue nella sezione “Testi per l’esame orale”
Rubrica: La docente richiede una rubrica in cui annotare le parole, comprensiva della trascrizione in
IPA e dei vari significati, che dovranno essere reperiti online dal Cambridge Dictionary
(https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/).
Strumenti utili per sinonimi e collocazioni:
1. Free Collocation
2. Thesaurus e sinonimi: The Free Dictionary e Thesaurus.com
Rubrica di parole nuove:
1. Seleziona le parole che non conosci.
2. Cerca la loro pronuncia IPA su Cambridge Dictionary o, se disponibile, su Oxford Online.
3. Fornisci il significato in italiano solo se ti aiuta.
4. Scrivi una definizione in inglese e crea una frase d'esempio.
Legenda dei caratteri Unicode utilizzati:
• ⓡ → Indica "rubrica"
• ↓ → Rappresenta "leggi sotto"
Legenda dei FONT usati:

• Calibri : quello che viene detto dalla docente a lezione
• Times New Roman: il contenuto delle slides
• SimSun Ext-B: il contenuto proviene dal manuale o da altre fonti
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Sommario
Semantics .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
What Is Discourse Analysis? ................................................................................................................................. 4
Ecolinguistics: Language, Ecology And The Stories We Live By ........................................................................... 7
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 7
Stories We Live By ......................................................................................................................................... 7
What Makes Us Human? .............................................................................................................................. 9
Ecolinguistics ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Ecosophy...................................................................................................................................................... 10
Ecosophy In One Word: Living!............................................................................................................... 10
How To Build Your Own Ecosophy.......................................................................................................... 11
What To Do With An Ecosophy? ............................................................................................................. 13
Ideologies ........................................................................................................................................................ 15
The Role Of Political Ideologies .................................................................................................................. 15
The Concept Of Discourse .......................................................................................................................... 16
Destructive Discourses ........................................................................................................................... 17
The Discourse Of Industrial Agriculture ................................................................................................. 17
Critical Language Awareness .................................................................................................................. 18
Critiquing Destructive Discourses .......................................................................................................... 18
English Language Rhetoric And Stylistic Devices ............................................................................................... 18
Sound Patterning ............................................................................................................................................ 18
Figurative Language ........................................................................................................................................ 19
Testi Per L’esame Orale ....................................................................................................................................... 23
A Butterfly: ‘Elbowing Each Other With The Joints On Their Legs, Pushing And Shoving To Get At The
Liquid’ .............................................................................................................................................................. 23
China’s Skyscraping Pig Farms Are High On The Hog, And Their Advanced Tech Feeds Into Food-Security
Drive ................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Jeremy Clarkson: My Ham-Fisted Attempt At Pig-Breeding.......................................................................... 28
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2° Lezione - Appunti 02.10.2024
SEMANTICS
Semantics refers to the meaning of words and can be:
1. Conceptual Meaning (Denotation): This refers to the literal definition of a word. [The definitionof a
word that can be found in a dictionary]
2. Associative Meaning (Connotation): This refers to the mental associations or emotions that a word
creates. For example, "home" can evoke protection, love, etc. Connotation is extremely subjective,
varying from individual to individual. It revelas the ambiguity of the language. It is often found in
literature and poetry, revealing the ambiguity of language and taking many forms.
Associative meaning is linked to figurative language, particularly metaphor, which is often associated with
connotation. A metaphor is a comparison in which the writer asserts that one thing is
another.
Anaphora: A rhetorical figure where a word or expression is repeated at the beginning of successive lines or
sentences. Example:
• "Tyger, tyger, burning bright / In the forests of the night" (William Blake’s poem ,”Song of
Experience”.Tyger è la forma utilizzata da Blake per indicare “tiger”)
Phonosymbolism: Refers to the use of sounds to reinforce connotative meaning. (repetition of the sound)
An example is alliteration, where repeated sounds (such as plosives /b/ and /t/) evoke strength or
intensity.
→Polysemy: Refers to a word with multiple meanings.
Semantic field: A group of words that are related in meaning. The first step in text analysis is
identifying the semantic field in the text.
→Lexical relations:
1. Synonymy: Words that are equivalent in meaning. (ex. “conceal” / “hide”)
2. Antonymy: Words with opposite meanings. If a text has many antonyms, it may be based on contrast.
(ex. “shallow” / “deep”)
3. Hyponym: A word that belongs to a more specific category. (“pine” < “tree”)
4. Hypernym: A more general word that includes categories (ex. “music” is a hypernym for “rock”, “jazz”
and “classical”,' which are its hyponyms) (“music” > “rock”)
5. Homophones: Words that sound the same but have different meanings (ex, "bare" and "bear").
6. Homonyms: Words that sound alike but have different meanings (ex. "mean" and "mean")
Slides di riferimento: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:f13a01f3-277d-4ae8-a18c-f70e766c9194
(già integrate nel testo che segue)
WHAT IS DISCOURSE ANALYSIS?
Discourse Analysis is defined as the study of language, focusing on how words, phrases, sentences, and
utterances combine to create coherent and meaningful texts. This field examines the structure of language
and how sentences and utterances are constructed to form texts and interactions that fit into the social
world. It offers a perspective that emphasizes the practical use of language in real-life contexts, enabling
individuals to joke, argue, persuade, and convey various meanings. A key concept in discourse analysis is the
term "utterance," which is often equated with "enunciation." Familiarity with this and similar concepts is
essential for understanding the interactions between different linguistic units.
The approach involves a metaphorical dissection of language, moving beyond superficial reading to uncover
how language operates and conveys meaning.
In addition to structural analysis, discourse analysis delves into the application of language in everyday
scenarios.
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A significant focus is placed on political speeches, which prompts critical reflection on the aims and
strategies employed by politicians in their messaging. This exploration encourages a deeper
understanding of how language is used to influence and engage audiences in various social contexts.
THIS APPROACH TO LANGUAGE ANALYSIS RESTS ON FOUR KEY ASSUMPTIONS :
1. Language is ambiguous.
2. Language is always 'in the world.'
3. The way we use language is inseparable from our identities and the various social groups to which we
belong.
4. Language is never used in isolation.
(1) Language is ambiguous
One of the critical areas explored within discourse analysis is the inherent ambiguity of language. This
ambiguity emerges from the multiple meanings of words and the significant role that context plays in
interpretation.
For instance, consider the question, "Do you have a pen?" while it may seem like a straightforward inquiry,
the underlying intent could be much more complex. Depending on the situation, this question might serve as
a simple request or suggest that the speaker needs a pen for an exam. The surrounding circumstances
profoundly influence its meaning.
The exploration of ambiguity also encompasses indirect phrasing and irony, both of which can lead to various
interpretations. For example, when someone uses an indirect question, like the pen inquiry, it may indicate
shyness about borrowing or a more subtle expectation that the other person is aware of the need. This
reflects a common reality: people do not always say what they mean, nor do they always mean what they
say.
Understanding these subtle nuances creates layers of meaning that require careful decoding, highlighting the
complexity of language comprehension. Discourse analysis thus plays a vital role in uncovering these layers,
enhancing our grasp of how language functions within different social contexts and the significance of
ambiguity in communication.
(2) Language is always 'in the world.'
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) plays a vital role in addressing the ambiguities inherent in language.
Ambiguity can often be exploited, leading to moments of deception, especially in contexts like politics and
advertising, where the stakes are high. Politicians and advertisers frequently leverage the multifaceted
nature of language to win our loyalty, patronage, or compliance. This reliance on ambiguity raises concerns
about the integrity of communication and the potential for manipulation.
CDA provides essential tools for decoding indirect language and uncovering the underlying ideologies that
shape discourse. By examining the structures and strategies employed in political speeches and
advertisements, CDA helps reveal how language is deliberately crafted to influence audiences. This
analytical approach enables us to critically assess how discourse can be used to persuade, manipulate, or
obscure truth.
IN DISCOURSE, LANGUAGE IS 'SITUATED' IN FOUR DISTINCT WAYS:
1. Within the Material World: Language exists in various forms, such as shop signs, textbooks, and
websites. The physical context in which we encounter language significantly contributes to how we
interpret it. For example, a shop sign may convey information and shape our perception of the business,
while a textbook serves an educational purpose, guiding our understanding of a subject.
2. Within Relationships: The dynamics between the speaker and the listener play a crucial role in shaping
meaning. Factors such as familiarity, authority, and power influence how messages are received. For
instance, if the speaker holds a position of power or authority, their words may carry more weight and
influence our responses. This connection between language and power dynamics is essential, particularly
in political discourse, where language conveys authority and can reinforce existing power structures.
3. In History: Language is situated within a historical context, relating to past events and shaping our
expectations for the future. This historical perspective enriches our understanding of language as it
connects present utterances to previous discourses. For example, political speeches often draw on
historical references or rhetorical traditions that resonate with audiences, providing a framework for
interpretation. The rhetoric used during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, frequently invokes
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familiar narratives and emotional responses, illustrating how historical communication influences current
discourse.
4. In Relation to Other Utterances and Texts: Language does not exist in isolation; it interacts with a web of
other utterances and texts. This interconnectedness means that the meaning of a specific statement can
be influenced by preceding and succeeding discourse. Recognizing this relationship is vital for
understanding how language constructs meaning within a broader context. In this regard, Critical
Discourse Analysis (CDA) examines the ways language is shaped by social relations and interactions,
fostering a nuanced appreciation for the complexities of communication in society.
By examining these various dimensions of situated language, students can gain deeper insights into how
meaning is constructed and influenced by social relations, power dynamics, and historical contexts. This
comprehensive understanding enhances their ability to critically analyze language across different discourse
forms, ultimately enriching their awareness of how language serves as a tool for identity construction and
social interaction.
(3) The way we use language is inseparable from our identities and the various social groups to which
we belong.
The meaning of an utterance is deeply influenced by its social context, including who is saying it, when and
where it is said, and to whom it is directed. This relationship between language and society is critical for
understanding how language operates within various social, cultural, and historical frameworks.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) illuminates the interconnectedness of language, texts, and ideologies with
societal structures. The significance of an utterance or text is shaped by multiple factors, such as the identity
of the speaker, the characteristics of the audience, and the context in which the communication occurs.
This underscores the importance of considering these elements in any thorough analysis of language.
For instance, during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the language used by politicians often aims to evoke
specific emotions, whether fear or solidarity. Political leaders may craft their messages to resonate with the
public's sentiments, aiming to unify or reassure citizens in times of uncertainty.
(4) Language and Identity
Riferimento : Stibbe, A. (2021). Ecolinguistics: Language, ecology and the stories we live by (cap. 6).
The relationship between language and identity is a fundamental aspect of discourse analysis. When people
speak or write, they are not merely conveying information; they are also demonstrating who they are and
their relationship to others. Language serves as a powerful tool for constructing and expressing identity,
allowing individuals to enact various aspects of themselves through discourse. In this sense, discourse helps
to create “who they are.”
Identity is not a fixed or singular concept; rather, it is multiple and fluid, adapting to different contexts and
social environments. For example, the identity one enacts while at a disco on a Saturday night is likely to
differ significantly from the identity expressed in a professional meeting or family gathering. This fluidity in
identity is reflected in variations in speech styles, which can shift based on factors such as the audience,
setting, and social norms.
Understanding language involves recognizing how identity is performed through speech. For instance,
political speeches serve as a prime example of how leaders assert their identity and authority through
carefully chosen language. The rhetoric employed by politicians not only conveys their messages but also
reinforces their positions within society, shaping public perception of their identities.
IRONY: Irony occurs when the literal meaning of a statement contrasts with its intended meaning. For
example, saying, “It was the perfect weather for a barbecue” during a heavy rainstorm is clearly ironic, as the
intended meaning is the opposite of the literal words. Irony serves as a rhetorical device, often used to make
statements indirect or less confrontational. It can also be a method to avoid censorship when the message
conveyed could be offensive or controversial if expressed directly. Irony is not only for humor but also for
indirect criticism or commentary.
SARCASM: Sarcasm is described as a stronger, more biting form of language compared to irony. Unlike light-
hearted irony, sarcasm has a scornful and aggressive tone, often intended to mock or insult. For instance,
saying, “Oh great, another meeting, just what I needed to make my day even better” conveys frustration or
annoyance despite its seemingly positive wording. The emotions behind sarcasm—such as anger,
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disappointment, jealousy, or even hatred—make it distinct from the more playful or humorous nature of
irony. Recognizing these tones in language is essential, particularly for understanding the subtext or hidden
meaning in texts.
THE USE OF RHETORICAL DEVICES IN LANGUAGE: Other rhetorical devices, such as metaphors, rhetorical
questions, and exaggeration, enhance the persuasiveness or impact of language.
A rhetorical question is not meant to elicit an answer but to emphasize a point or provoke thought—the
answer is in the question. An example of this is found in common advertising slogans that employ rhetorical
questions, such as “Nespresso, what else?” These techniques are designed to persuade and manipulate, often
without the audience realizing it. (THE MANIPULATIVE POWER OF LANGUAGE IN ADVERTISING: Language is
used in advertisements to manipulate consumers.)
ECOLINGUISTICS: LANGUAGE, ECOLOGY AND THE STORIES WE LIVE BY
INTRODUCTION
Ecology: the relationship between the human being and environment
human animal:uomo | non human animal: animale
“The link between ecology and language is that — how humans treat each other, and the natural world ts
influenced by our thoughts, concepts, ideas, ideologies and worldviews, and these in turn are shaped through
language. [...] it is through language that the natural world is mentally reduced to objects or resources to be
exploited, and it is through language that people can be encouraged to respect and care for the system that
supports life” (Stibbe, 2021, p. 2)
Worldview is shaped through language, significantly influencing how we perceive various aspects of society,
including consumerism and animal welfare.
Example: An advertisement for chicken fillets at Sainsbury's exemplifies this concept with
phrases like, “Our chickens have happier and healthier lives” and “Our chickens now have
more space to roam.” These statements reflect a possessive(OUR) and exploitative view of
animals, reinforcing the ideology that consuming them is acceptable as long as they are
labeled “happy.”Such language is designed to influence consumer behavior while
obscuring the truth, creating a false narrative that misleads consumers into believing they are making ethical
choices, even when those choices support harmful practices. The portrayal of chickens as “happier” serves to
reassure consumers about the morality of their purchases, suggesting that as long as the chickens are
presented positively, their exploitation is justified. This narrative perpetuates the concept of “happy animals”
being raised for food, which further normalizes the idea that animal exploitation is acceptable. By framing the
narrative around positive attributes, advertisements encourage consumers to overlook the underlying
realities of animal agriculture.
In this context, language not only shapes ideologies but also reinforces societal values related to
consumerism. It suggests that buying these products is both ethical and desirable, even when the truth is far
more complex. Therefore, understanding how language constructs worldviews is crucial for critically
evaluating the messages we encounter in advertisements and the implications they have for our beliefs and
behaviors regarding consumption and animal welfare.
STORIES WE LIVE BY
Stories are cognitive structures in the minds of Individuals which influence how they think, talk and act.
Stories-we-live-by are stories in the minds of multiple individuals across a culture. (Stibbe, 2021, p. 6)
The concept of “stories we live by” emerges from ecolinguistics, focusing on how narratives shape our
understanding of the world. These stories are cognitive structures embedded in our minds, influencing
individual and collective behavior. When these stories are widely accepted within a community or society,
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they transform into ideologies—dominant ideas that shape perceptions, behaviors, and societal norms. For
instance, consumerism serves as a dominant ideology in contemporary society, where individuals are
encouraged to purchase more, equating possessions like a new phone with success or status. This example
illustrates how certain narratives become ingrained ideologies, prompting reflection on other contemporary
stories, such as those related to gender roles, societal expectations, and attitudes toward the environment.
Once widely accepted, these narratives evolve into unquestioned ideologies, influencing language and
behavior on a broad scale.
Language plays a crucial role in shaping and reflecting human thoughts, going beyond the mere
communication of emotions or activities. It transmits ideologies, worldviews, and concepts that influence
how humans perceive the natural world. The connection between language and ecology highlights how
humans' treatment of nature is intertwined with the ways language frames ecological ideas. Language has
the power to either promote exploitation, reducing nature to resources and objects, or encourage a
respectful and caring relationship with the environment. Words are not neutral; they carry values and ideas
that shape interactions with the world. This underscores the importance of developing a critical approach to
language, recognizing its role in perpetuating or challenging harmful ecological narratives.
In ecolinguistics, stories are defined as cognitive structures that exist within individuals and groups, shaping
their thinking, speech, and behavior. These stories function as mental models or frameworks that shape
perceptions and actions. While individual stories influence personal perspectives, collective narratives
influence the consciousness of entire societies, extending beyond individual experiences. Collective stories
encompass the values and beliefs of entire cultures, becoming powerful influences that propagate shared
worldviews. For instance, the pervasive narrative of consumerism suggests that increased consumption leads
to happiness, encouraging people to buy more goods under the illusion of fulfillment. Similarly, stories
surrounding gender and identity, such as those about women or LGBTQ groups, can create societal divisions
and separations. These cognitive structures demonstrate how deeply embedded stories influence both
individual consciousness and collective behavior across cultures.
The distinction between individual and collective stories is significant. While individual stories shape
personal views, collective stories influence the broader social consciousness, impacting larger groups and
societies. These collective narratives extend beyond individual experiences and become embedded within
cultural values, influencing social norms and policy decisions. For example, narratives about economic
progress, technological advancement, or environmental conservation do not remain isolated; they become
shared values that influence collective behavior and societal choices across different cultures and regions.
Ecolinguistics focuses on uncovering the hidden stories that lie behind and between the lines of texts.
Everyday texts—such as advertisements, media reports, and books—often carry implicit narratives that shape
societal worldviews. For example, an advertisement for "breast-fed chicken" might seem straightforward, but
ecolinguistic analysis reveals deeper layers. Advertisements like these often present products as sources of
happiness or health, creating and perpetuating stories about consumer choices and lifestyle ideals. Such
analysis involves reading between the lines to reveal the underlying messages and narratives.
Ecolinguistics encourages a critical approach where surface messages are not accepted at face value. Instead,
the underlying ideologies and narratives are examined, revealing the power dynamics, cultural values, and
ecological perspectives embedded in language. By interpreting these hidden layers, ecolinguistics provides a
deeper understanding of how language influences societal attitudes and behaviors, particularly those related
to ecology and the environment.
TYPES OF STORIES:
1. Ideologies 5. Identities
2. Framings 6. Convictions
3. Metaphors 7. Erasure
4. Evaluations 8. Salience
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(LETTURA) A butterfly: ‘elbowing each other with the joints on their legs, pushing and shoving to get at the liquid’ - Helen
Sullivan

Slides di riferimento:https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:c312f254-e7b6-4359-a68d-1f13631a8b42
WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?

Story 1: Humans are not animals
Story 2: What makes us human is to be discovered in our differences
from other animals rather than commonalities (Ch.1, p. 4)
“Since the stories are mental models R they cannot be analysed

directly, but we can get clues to them through analysing common ways
that people use language.” (Ch.1, p. 10)
A case study examines the BBC documentary titled What Makes Us

Human?, which implicitly suggests a separation between humans and
the animal kingdom. This title contains multiple embedded stories.
1. The first story implies that humans exist outside the animal
kingdom, positioning humans as distinct and superior to non-human
animals. The idea of humans as separate entities establishes a dualistic worldview, reinforcing a
hierarchical relationship between humans and nature.
2. The second story within this title suggests that what defines humans must be discovered in terms of
their differences from animals rather than their commonalities. This approach encourages a focus on
distinctions rather than connections, reinforcing the narrative that human exceptionalism is a
fundamental truth. Such narratives have significant implications, as they shape societal attitudes
toward the natural world and influence policies related to environmental conservation and animal
rights.
In contrast to the narrative presented in the BBC documentary, Charles Darwin’s work on emotions highlights
the similarities between humans and animals. Darwin’s research, particularly in his 1872 book The
Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, argues that human and animal emotions, such as fear, are
expressed in similar ways. By exploring these similarities, Darwin challenges the separation between the
human and animal kingdoms, proposing instead that there is a fundamental connection between them.
Darwin’s perspective offers an alternative narrative, one that emphasizes unity and shared characteristics
rather than divisions. This view creates a story of connection and communion, demonstrating how language
and scientific discourse can challenge dominant narratives that promote separation. By examining Darwin’s
work, one can see how ecolinguistics can be used to identify and critique different worldviews, revealing the
power of language in shaping ecological perspectives.
ECOLINGUISTICS
Functions of Ecolinguistics
1. uses linguistic analysis to reveal the stories we live by;
2. questions these stories from an ecological perspective;
3. contributes to the search for new stories to live by.
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Ecolinguistics serves several critical functions, each contributing to a deeper understanding of how language
influences ecological attitudes and behaviors:
1. Revealing Stories: The primary function is to uncover the hidden stories within texts and language
use. By decoding narratives, ecolinguistics makes explicit the underlying beliefs and assumptions that
influence human behavior toward the environment. For instance, analyzing the title What Makes Us
Human? reveals the implicit stories that reinforce human exceptionalism and separation from nature.
2. Questioning Narratives: Beyond revealing stories, ecolinguistics also questions and challenges these
narratives. The goal is to interrogate dominant ideologies and explore alternative ways of thinking
that promote ecological awareness and sustainability. This involves examining how language creates
power dynamics and relationships of submission, exploitation, or separation from nature. By
questioning these narratives, ecolinguistics encourages the development of more equitable and
respectful ways of interacting with the environment.
3. Creating New Stories: The ultimate aim of ecolinguistics is to foster the creation of new narratives
that promote ecological harmony. These new stories challenge destructive ideologies and offer
alternative ways of thinking about nature, encouraging a shift towards sustainability and ethical
treatment of all living beings. Language becomes a tool for envisioning and communicating these
new ecological perspectives.
ECOSOPHY
ethical framework used to evaluate the language
"Each ecolinguist will have his/her own set of philosophical principles to judge stories, reflecting his/her
values and priorities.”( Ch.1,p. 11-12)
Naess (1995) uses the term ecosophy (a shortening of ‘ecological philosophy’) to describe a set of
philosophical principles which include ecological consideration. He expresses it as follows: By an ecosophy I
mean a philosophy of ecological harmony … openly normative, it contains both norms, rules, postulates, value
priority announcements and hypotheses concerning the state of affairs … The details of an ecosophy will show
many variations due to significant differences concerning not only ‘facts’ of pollution, resources, population,
etc., but also value priorities. (Naess 1995, p. 8)
Ecosophy, a term that combines "ecology" and "philosophy", represents the ethical foundation upon which
ecolinguistic analysis is built. It provides a framework for evaluating language from an ecological and moral
perspective. The term, coined by philosopher Arne Næss in 1995, emphasizes the need for an ecological
worldview that includes norms, rules, and value priorities aimed at promoting ecological harmony.
Ecosophy is inherently normative, containing ethical principles that guide ecolinguistic analysis. For example,
principles such as empathy, respect for all species, and the recognition of ecological limits are fundamental
components of ecosophy. The purpose of ecolinguistics is to integrate these ethical principles into the
interpretation and critique of language, challenging narratives that promote ecological harm.
Ecosophy in one word: Living!
( Ch.1,p. 14-15)
Explanation Valuing living: The exclamation mark in Living! is normative, indicating ‘to be valued
/celebrated /respected/affirmed,’ and it applies to all species that are living. This is a value announcement but
is based on the observation that beings value their lives and do whatever they can to continue living. The
‘valuing’ takes place in different ways: consciously, instinctively, and almost (but not quite) mechanically, from
a pedestrian watching carefully for cars, to a sparrow taking flight at the sound of a fox, or a snow buttercup
following the arc of the sun to soak up life-giving rays.
An essential component of ecosophy is the concept of “living well,” which goes beyond mere survival. Living
well encompasses a state of well-being that includes not only the present but also future generations. It
emphasizes sustainable and ethical living, prioritizing the care of the environment and the well-being of all
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species. The principle of living well also involves social justice, recognizing the unequal distribution of
resources and the impact of global consumption patterns. It calls for a fair redistribution of resources,
advocating for ecological and social balance. Living well requires empathy, respect, and gratitude toward
nature and all living beings, promoting an ethical approach that values life beyond mere survival.
Wellbeing: Living! is not the same as ‘being alive’ since there are conditions which reduce the ability to value
being alive, such as extreme exploitation, enclosure in factory farms or illness due to chemical contamination.
The goal is not just living in the sense of survival but living well, with high wellbeing. Now and the future: The
temporal scope of Living! is not limited to the present, so includes the ability to live with high wellbeing in the
present, in the future, and the ability of future generations to live and live well.
Care: While respect for the lives of all species is central, continued ‘living’ inevitably involves an exchange of
life. There will therefore be those who we stop from living, and those whose lives we damage in order to
continue our own lives and wellbeing. The ethical aspect of the ecosophy deals with this through empathy,
regret and gratitude, rather than an attempt to preserve moral consistency by considering those we harm as
inferior, worthless, or just resources. Empathy implies awareness of impacts on others, regret implies
minimising harm, and gratitude implies a duty to ‘give back’ something to the systems that support us.
Environmental limits: If human consumption exceeds the ability of natural resources to replenish themselves
then this damages the ability of ecological systems to support life (and living) into the future. Equally, if
consumption leads to more waste than can be absorbed by ecosystems, the excess waste will prevent beings
from living or living with high wellbeing. To keep within environmental limits an immediate and large scale
reduction of total global consumption is necessary.
Social justice: Currently, large numbers of people do not have the resources to live, or to live with high
wellbeing. As global consumption levels drop (either voluntarily or through resource exhaustion) resources
will need to be redistributed from rich to poor if all are to live with high wellbeing.
Ecosophy also includes elements of social justice and empathy. Social justice addresses the disparities in
resource distribution and highlights the need for fairer consumption patterns. Empathy extends to all forms
of life, encouraging a holistic approach that values ecological balance and well-being. These principles are
central to creating new stories that promote sustainability and challenge destructive practices.
Deep Adaptation: In addition to wake of the pandemic, ecological destruction is already occurring, and
significantly more is inevitable if industrial societies return to the trajectory that they were on. It is necessary
to put in place measures to preserve life and wellbeing as far as possible as current forms of society collapse
or undergo radical change.
An ethical framework based on ecological Respecting animal life: Choosing sustainable
Ecosophy values, promoting respect, empathy, and farming methods to ensure animal well-being and
harmony with nature. ecological balance.
A set of dominant beliefs or ideas that
Consumerism: The belief that buying more products
Ideology influence behavior and perceptions, often
(like new phones) leads to happiness and success.
without questioning.
Ecosophy is based on ethical principles that promote a respectful relationship with the environment, while
Ideology refers to dominant beliefs that influence behavior without always being questioned.
(LETTURA) China’s skyscraping pig farms are high on the hog, and their advanced tech feeds into food-security drive

HOW TO BUILD YOUR OWN ECOSOPHY
Slides di riferimento: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:18c9bafc-53e7-4094-8d83-fd385986e5a9
Ecological philosophy (Naess, 1995)
«a set of philosophical principles which include ecological consideration» (Stibbe, 2021, p. 12)
It is normative, i.e., it contains norms or rules about how the world should be
Ecosophy is an ethical framework combining ecological principles and philosophy to create a set of values and
assumptions about the natural world. It involves a blend of objective, evidence- based facts and subjective
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values that individuals or analysts hold regarding their relationship with nature and non-human entities,
including animals, plants, and ecosystems.
It consists of both:
• assumptions, based on evidence
o e.g. Following the most recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) reports,
we can assume the climate crisis is real and irreversible;
• value statements, not based on evidence
o e.g. All living species ought to be valued and celebrated
There is no single correct ecosophy
"An individual ecolinguist will survey the wide range of possible ecosophies described in the literature,
consider them carefully in light of available evidence and their own experience of human communities and the
natural world, and build their own ecosophy through combining them, extending them or creating something
entirely new" (Stibbe, 2021, p. 14)
Since no single ecosophy can be universally applicable, it is inherently individual, shaped by the
experiences,theories, and perspectives of each person. Ecosophy functions as the foundational framework
necessary for conducting ecolinguistic analysis.
In ecolinguistics the PRIMARY AIM is to examine how language reflects and influences our perception of the
natural world and our interactions with it. The objective is to evaluate whether texts promote ecological or
unecological behavior. This involves determining whether language used in various texts portrays the
environment in a positive manner, encouraging ecological action, or whether it instead portrays it negatively,
promoting damaging behaviors.
Ecolinguistics is a form of critical discourse analysis that specifically targets the way language constructs and
reinforces ideologies, particularly those concerning nature. While certain critical discourse analyses (such as
those focusing on sexism or racism) rely on established social agreements to identify and critique harmful
language, ecolinguistics encounters the challenge of assessing ecological versus unecological language due
to the varying ways individuals conceptualize the natural world.
The subjective nature of ecological values requires a standard against which texts are judged, making it
crucial to define an ecosophy before carrying out any analysis.
Constructing an ecosophy involves selecting principles grounded in scientific evidence, personal experiences,
and existing theories. It may draw from established ecosophies, integrating elements that resonate with one’s
views.
Despite its individual nature, a clear statement of the ecosophy is necessary for consistent and coherent
analysis, as it serves as the baseline for evaluating the alignment of language used in texts with ecological
values. An essential aspect of ecolinguistic analysis is determining whether the language in a text promotes
ideologies that align with or contradict one’s ecosophy. The process of analyzing texts begins with identifying
whether they are positive, negative, or ambivalent in their portrayal of ecological relationships.
• Positive texts, or beneficial texts, use language that supports ecological values and promotes actions
beneficial to the environment.
• Negative texts, known as destructive texts, use language that harms or undermines ecological well-
being.
• Ambivalent texts, often the most vivid, contain a mixture of both beneficial and destructive
elements.
To ground this analysis, the ecolinguist must define their ecosophy independently of the text being analyzed.
This step ensures that the framework for evaluation remains stable and consistent. Each analyst’s ecosophy is
a personalized system of thought that reflects their understanding of what is ecologically right and necessary.
An important part of defining one’s ecosophy may involve summarizing it with a single word or phrase that
encapsulates its core principles. For example, one might choose terms like living or caring to summarize their
ecosophy, reflecting an ethos that promotes the intrinsic value of all living beings.A critical ecolinguistic
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analysis begins with the ecosophy, which allows the analyst to systematically compare the language used in
the text against their defined values.
By using this framework, an analyst can categorize the text as beneficial, destructive, or ambivalent based on
its alignment or opposition to the ecosophy. This approach not only enables an evaluation of language but
also exposes the ideologies underlying the text. Language becomes a tool for understanding and critiquing
the ways societies construct and sustain specific worldviews.For example, deep ecology, a philosophical
movement originating in Norway in the 1980s,provides a commonly referenced ecosophy. It emphasizes the
intrinsic worth of all living andnon-living entities—humans, animals, plants, forests, and rivers—independent
of their usefulness to humans. This philosophy rejects the utilitarian view that values nature only for its
resourcesand instead promotes the idea that these entities have inherent value simply because they exist.
Ecosophy Statement
Human ingenuity and ever-advancing technology will overcome environmental
Cornucopianism and resource issues, so we must continue with and accelerate industrial progress
for human benefit.
We must combine economic growth with protecting environmental resources
Sustainable
to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
development
generations to meet their needs.
We must build a more equal world and redistribute resources from rich to poor
Social ecology so that everyone can meet their needs as industrial economies contract to stay
within environmental limits.
We must rethink the dominant model of hierarchy which sees men as superior
Ecofeminism to both women and nature. Instead, we must build a new, more equal culture,
which recognises women's contribution to sustainability and values nature.
We must recognise the intrinsic worth of humans, plants, animals, forests, and
Deep ecology rivers, beyond their direct, short-term use for humans. Recognising worth in
nature encourages protecting life-supporting conditions.
The key goal now is 'resilience', as both climate change and the depletion of oil
Transition lead to an inevitable decline in Earth's ability to support human life. Local
movement communities must develop bonds and skills to fulfil needs outside of the global
economy.
The dark The current industrial civilisation is on an irredeemable path towards collapse.
mountain The task now is to search for new stories to live by so survivors can rebuild
project humane and sustainable societies after collapse.
Industrial civilisation is evil due to the damage and suffering it causes both
Deep green
humans and other species. We must hasten its end through carefully planned
resistance
sabotage rather than waiting for collapse.
Voluntary It would be better for one species (homo sapiens) to become extinct rather than
human the millions of species humans are driving to extinction. We must come to a
extinction global agreement not to have children.
WHAT TO DO WITH AN ECOSOPHY?

«After linguistic analysis reveals stories, they are judged according to the ecosophy» (Stibbe, 2021, p. 16)
The ecosophy is the framework against which the texts examined are judged as either positive or negative Let
us take Deep Ecology as our main ecosophy:
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"We must recognise the intrinsic worth of humans, plants, animals, forests, and rivers, that is, their value
beyond direct, short-term use for humans. Recognising worth in nature is likely to encourage people to protect
the conditions that support all life, including human life."
An ecosophy like deep ecology highlights the challenge of aligning texts with ecological values since societal
norms and mainstream narratives often reduce nature to a resource or commodity.
Ecolinguists must critically analyze whether texts support or challenge these norms by examining the
language used to describe ecological relationships. This involves exploring metaphors, lexical choices, and the
overall discourse to identify how texts frame the environment and human interactions with it.
(LETTURA) Jeremy Clarkson: My ham-fisted attempt at pig-breeding

Per registrarti al corso "The Stories We Live By," visita questo link. Il corso offre materiali legati al libro
Ecolinguistics: Language, Ecology and the Stories We Live By di Arran Stibbe (2ª ed., Routledge, 2021).
Dopo la registrazione, potrai accedere a risorse aggiuntive come il video che segue.
The Stories We Live By(video)

In “The Stories We Live By,” Erin Tippi explores how societal narratives shape our values and behaviors. She
critiques dominant stories that prioritize economic growth, which have led to environmental destruction and
social inequality. Tippi argues that many of these narratives, such as the obsession with retail sales and
human centrality, are detrimental. By using ecolinguistics, she seeks to unveil these narratives, question their
ecological impact, and find new, sustainable stories that promote respect for the environment and social
equity. The course will provide tools for analyzing and transforming the stories we live by.
1. The Power of Stories: Stories shape societal values and individual behaviors profoundly. The
narratives we embrace can either enable growth and sustainability or lead to destruction and
inequality. Understanding the stories we live by is crucial for fostering positive change.
2. Media Influence: The language used in media reports significantly influences public perception.
Tippi’s analysis of retail sales language illustrates how positive framing can encourage
overconsumption, while negative framing can create unnecessary panic. This highlights the need for
responsible media narratives.
3. Identifying Destructive Narratives: Many prevalent stories, such as the relentless pursuit of
economic growth, contribute to societal and environmental crises. Recognizing these narratives is the
first step toward finding more sustainable stories that prioritize ecological balance and social equity.
4. Searching for New Stories: There is a pressing need to discover and promote new narratives that
inspire respect for the environment and encourage sustainable living. Tippi suggests looking to
diverse cultural sources and traditional wisdom to find these transformative stories.
5. Cultural Wisdom and Nature: Indigenous narratives and cultural practices often provide valuable
insights into harmonious living with nature. By embracing these stories, we can learn to appreciate
and protect our ecosystems, fostering a deeper connection with the natural world.
Ecolinguistics studies how language influences people's thoughts and behaviors, particularly regarding
ecological and social perspectives. Ecolinguistics aims to reveal the underlying stories embedded in language,
often called narratives, that influence societal beliefs and actions. These stories, whether they encourage
consumerism, exploitation of resources, or competition among nations, significantly impact the
environment and social relationships.
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Ideologies
IDEOLOGY A STORY ABOUT HOW THE WORLD WAS, IS AND SHOULD BE, IN THE MINDS OF MEMBERS OF A GROUP. ACHARACTERISTIC
LANGUAGE FEATURES USED BY MEMBERS OF A GROUP. STORIES SPREAD OUT INTO THE LARGER CULTURE AND BECOME THE NORMAL
WAY THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT AN AREA OF LIFE; THEY ARE COGNITIVE, THEY EXIST IN THE MINDS OF INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE
BUT ARE ALSO COMMON TO ALL MEMBERS OF A GROUP; THEY ALSO HAVE A LINGUISTIC MANIFESTATION IN CHARACTERISTIC
WAYS OF SPEAKING AND WRITING USED BY THOSE MEMBERS.
Ideologies allow people, as group members, to organise the multitude of social beliefs about what is the case,
what is good or bad, right or wrong, for them, and act accordingly.
Ideologies—systems of beliefs or worldviews that can have a negative impact on society. These ideologies are
often embedded in language and are sometimes subtle or subconscious.
[…] the news reports that describe the ‘bad news’ about a drop in Christmas sales, or the ‘good news’ that
airline profits are up, or the advertisements promising us that we will be better people if we purchase the
unnecessary goods they are promoting.[…]
For example, there was a mention of a Christmas season where retail sales were lower than expected, and
newspapers portrayed this as a "tragedy". This choice of language reflects an ideology that values
consumerism and economic growth, viewing lower sales as inherently negative. This ideology can be
destructive, as it encourages behaviors that may harm the environment and contribute to inequality.
The analysis highlighted how certain ideologies are communicated through specific lexical choices, such as
the use of words like "tragedy," "disaster," or "critical period" to describe a drop in retail sales. Conversely, a
ⓡ heatwave leading to higher sales was framed positively, regardless of its environmental consequences. This
indicates that the ideology behind such narratives is that consumption is good and should be maximized, an
ideology that ecolinguistics seeks to challenge.
The Role of Political Ideologies

Nationalists are an example of a group of people who share an ideology or worldview which manifests itself in
particular forms of language. The following examples from the British National Party contain language
choices which divide people into an ingroup (British; English; indigenous; native) and an outgroup
(immigrant; alien; foreigner; African):
• MASS IMMIGRATION CRISIS: Immigrant hordes heading for SoftTouch Britain … We will put British
people first. (BNP leaflet, PD13 – see appendix for full reference)
• … to hold back the hordes of Third World migrants clamouring to invade the British Isles …. (PD14)
ⓡ
• Multiculturalism is the eradication of the indigenous culture and being replaced by a hotchpotch of foreign
and alien groups … the BNP has 20 Ideologies campaigned for … a return to the homogenous, indigenous
British culture in Britain. (BNP chairman speech 2019, PD15)
• And if large numbers of Africans come to Britain, breathing English air or even being born in England can
never make them or their descendants English. (BNP article, PD16)
• So-called ‘white flight’ from London [is] a result of successive governments favouring and putting foreigners
first at the expense of native Londoners. (BNP London manifesto, PD19)
PD: Political documents (appendix page 232)
The British National Party (BNP) was used as a case study to illustrate how language can convey ideologies.
The party's leaflets characterized immigration to Britain as a "mass immigration crisis," using terms like
ⓡ"hordes" and "soft-touch Britain". This language creates a clear division between "us" (natives) and "them"
(immigrants), fostering a sense of fear and dehumanization. The choice of words such as "hordes" or "alien"
carries negative connotations, presenting immigrants as a threat to the so-called purity of British culture.
The analysis emphasized how this kind of language is inherently ideological, reflecting a worldview that
values certain groups over others and promotes exclusion. It encourages people to adopt a nationalist
perspective, which may lead to discriminatory behaviors. Understanding the ideological implications of such
language is crucial for developing critical awareness.
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The Concept of Discourse
DISCOURSE: THE CHARACTERISTIC WAY THAT A PARTICULAR GROUP IN SOCIETY USES LANGUAGE, IMAGES AND OTHER FORMS
OF REPRESENTATION WHICH CONVEY PARTICULAR IDEOLOGIES, COME TOGETHER TO TELL A PARTICULAR STORY ABOUT THE
WORLD. DISCOURSES DON’T REPRESENT THE WORLD AS IT IS, BUT THEY REPRESENT POSSIBLE WORLDS
DISCOURSE ANALYSES HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF PATTERNS OF LINGUISTIC FEATURES THAT RUN ACROSS MULTIPLE TEXTS
AND CONVEY THE SAME IDEOLOGY
Discourses are standardised ways that particular groups in society use language, images and other forms of
representation
A "discourse" is defined as a way in which language is used to convey certain meanings or ideologies. For
example, the BNP's language was analyzed to show how ideologies are expressed through linguistic choices.
The term "mass immigration crisis" suggests a negative and urgent situation, while phrases like "put British
people first" promote a nationalistic and exclusionary ideology. This example illustrated how language can
frame social and political realities, influencing public perception and behavior.
This does not imply that the ideologies are shared only by members of the groups – in many cases, groups are
keen for their stories to spread out into the larger culture and become the normal way that people think about
an area of life. Ideologies are cognitive, in the sense that they exist in the minds of individual people but are
also common to all members of the group. As van Dijk (2011, p. 382) puts it, ideologies are ‘a form of social
cognition, that is beliefs shared by and distributed over (the minds of) group members’.
Fairclough (2003, p. 9) gives an example of a particular ideology – ‘the pervasive claim that in the new
“global” economy, countries must be highly competitive to survive’. He goes on to say that the ideology is not
necessarily untrue but ‘is not the inevitable law of nature it is often represented as being, but the product of a
particular economic order which could be changed’.
This captures the essence of a ‘story’ – a version, perspective, or description of the world which is not
necessarily false, but is just one possibility among many others. The stories are conveyed through the choice of
lexical items, grammatical constructs and other linguistic features that are standardly used by a particular
group. For example, an article in the right-wing newspaper The Daily Mail describes international
competition as a race between countries, with words like ‘pull away’, ‘streak ahead’ and ‘overtake’:
ⓡ ⓡ ⓡ
Economic narratives are often framed in terms of competition and growth, as demonstrated by an article
from the Daily Mail that discussed Britain's economic status relative to France. The language used included
phrases like "dominant global economy," "streak ahead," and "pull away," which framed economic activity as
a race between countries. This narrative is underpinned by an ideology that values economic dominance and
constant growth.
The ecolinguistic perspective critiques this ideology, arguing that it promotes unsustainable practices. The
narrative assumes that economic success is inherently good, disregarding the potential environmental
consequences. The critique of such narratives involves questioning the choice of language and the
assumptions it carries, suggesting that alternative stories could focus on cooperation and sustainable
development.
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Slides di riferimento: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:18c9bafc-53e7-4094-8d83-fd385986e5a9
Destructive Discourses
DESTRUCTIVE DISCOURSES :STORIES THAT ARE PERCEIVED TO BE CAUSING HARM BECAUSE THEY OPPOSE THE ECOSOPHY
OF THE ANALYST. THEY WORK AGAINST THE WELLBEING FOR ALL SPECIES, AGAINST A REDUCTION IN CONSUMPTION OR AGAINST
STAYING WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITS.
• IDEOLOGIES DESTRUCTIVE DISCOURSES: mainstream economic discourses

For Halliday = economic discourses use language to represent economic growth as the fundamental
goal of society. He criticises this as it inevitably leads to the end of resources and destruction of the
ecosystem
o consumption, commodification, commodities vs ecosophy of this book
• BUYING PRODUCTS IS A WAY TO HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING
«[Advertisers are] selling sports cars as a substitute for freedom, junk food and soda as a substitute for
excitement, "brands' as a substitute for social identity, and pretty much everything as a substitute for
sex, itself a proxy for the intimacy that is so lacking in modern life» Eisenstein, 2013, p. 20.
Discourses can be categorized as destructive, ambivalent, or beneficial, depending on the ideologies they
promote. Destructive discourses are those that encourage behaviors harmful to the environment or society,
such as the mainstream economic narrative that prioritizes growth over sustainability.
Advertisements, for example, often sell products by associating them with desirable qualities like freedom or
excitement, even if the products themselves have negative environmental impacts.
A passage from Eisenstein was cited, where he criticizes advertisements for selling sports cars as substitutes
for freedom, junk food as substitutes for excitement, and brands as substitutes for social identity. This
language suggests that buying products leads to happiness and well-being, a narrative that ecolinguistics
identifies as destructive. The goal is to replace such narratives with more sustainable alternatives.
The Discourse of Industrial Agriculture
• INTENSIVE INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE = treats animals as commodities. Factory farming
industries produce pollution, cause harm for the wellbeing of animals and are environmentally
dangerous
• Killing of rodents: «pest management» IDEOLOGY: FACTORY FARMING IS BENEFICIAL TO
ANIMALS and ANIMALS ARE OBJECTS.
• ANALYSIS of discoursive strategies used by factory farming industries:
o Ambiguous language
o - Double speak:
o EUPHEMISM
▪ Cages = «individual accommodations»
▪ Chickens = «grain and roughage-consuming animal units»
▪ Partitions that entrap animals= «for privacy»
For example, factory documents might refer to cages as "individual accommodations," which sounds more
humane but conceals the true nature of confinement. This use of language reflects an ideology that views
animals as commodities, reinforcing practices that may be harmful to the environment and animal welfare.
Euphemism, a common rhetorical device, involves using milder or less direct language to describe harsh or
unpleasant realities. In the context of factory farming, euphemisms are used to make the conditions of
animals more palatable. For instance, referring to cages as "accommodations" suggests comfort, while in
reality, it masks the reality of confinement.
Euphemisms are also common in political language, as politicians often avoid terms like "war" and use
"conflict" instead, making the situation seem less severe.
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George Orwell's essay, Politics and the English Language written in 1946, argued that politicians use vague
and ready-made phrases to avoid clarity and responsibility. This critique remains relevant today, as
ambiguous and euphemistic language continues to shape political discourse.
Critical Language Awareness
Critical Language Awareness (Fairclough) Encourage awareness that the ideology of economic growth as
the goal of society is only one story - and a negative one.
A central concept in the analysis is "critical language awareness" which involves recognizing and questioning
the ideological implications of language. This idea, developed by Norman Fairclough, a prominent linguist,
encourages individuals to become aware of the ways language conveys ideologies, especially those related to
economic growth and consumption. Understanding how language shapes thought can lead to more informed
and ecologically responsible behaviors.
Critiquing Destructive Discourses
Scholars (Stibbe 2003; Linzey 2006) have suggested that industry discourse characterises animals in ways that
objectify them and obscure morally relevant characteristics such as animal sentience... Although an analysis of
discourse may seem odd and irrelevant this type of examination is illuminating in some potentially beneficial
ways It may be necessary to reconsider several aspects of animal production relative to ideology, discourse,
and practice. Transparency of contemporary animal production practices and a real ethic of care and respect
for animals must be embodied not just in car practices but also in the internal and external discourse of animal
agriculture». (Croney and Reynnellis 2008: 387.390)
Ecolinguistics aims to develop a critical awareness of how language can influence ecological and social
behaviors. It seeks to identify harmful ideologies and replace them with narratives that promote
sustainability, equality, and respect for the natural world. This process involves challenging the language of
mainstream economics, advertisements, and industrial agriculture, revealing the ideologies they promote,
and finding more ecologically sound alternatives.

Slides di riferimento: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:aa2abf5e-fb16-49c9-9cf4-1583adb79435
ENGLISH LANGUAGE RHETORIC AND STYLISTIC DEVICES

SOUND PATTERNING
A range of devices for playing on the patterns and sounds of words to create certain stylistic effects.
Exploring sound patterns and rhetorical figures enriches our understanding of language’s power to influence,
evoke, and communicate complex emotions. Sound patterning is the intentional repetition of sounds to
produce stylistic effects, making language memorable, engaging, and often deeply symbolic. These patterns
create specific impressions, often linked to emotions, and are key to enhancing both prose and poetry.
In William Blake's poem, Tiger, Tiger, burning bright, for instance, the repeated “T” and “P” sounds generate
a rhythmic strength that reflects the tiger's power.
(PHONOSYMBOLIC LEVEL OF LANGUAGE= sounds produce a certain semantic effect)
The technique used here is part of the phono-symbolic level of language. At this level, sounds transcend
mere pronunciation to become part of the message, carrying an inherent symbolism that enhances meaning.
This approach, called phono-symbolism, links sound and significance, turning sounds into subtle carriers of
meaning that deepen the impact of the text.
• Alliteration: the repetition of a consonant, often in initial position. Ex.: Help Labour Build a Better
Britain; pick up a penguin.
Alliteration is another powerful stylistic device, involving the repetition of consonants, usually at the
beginning of words, to emphasize key ideas and capture attention. In phrases like Help Labour build a
better Britain, the repeated "B" sound reinforces the slogan’s message, giving it a memorable rhythm.
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The choice of sounds is deliberate, crafted to resonate with audiences and leave a lasting impression.
Similarly, in Pick up a penguin, the repetition of “P” sounds generates a playful tone, encouraging the
audience to engage with the message. Alliteration serves not only as a mnemonic device but also as a
way to infuse language with rhythm and musicality, which makes it highly effective in advertising and
literature alike.
• Assonance: the repetition of a vowel in a medial position. Often used to create a grave or pensive tone.
Ex.: The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each
slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. Wilfred Owen, 'Anthem for Doomed Youth", 1920
A related sound device, assonance, emphasizes repeated vowel sounds within words, often creating a
solemn or introspective tone. In phrases such as The power of the girl's brows, flowers, drawing-down,
drawing, the repetition of the “O” sound generates a sense of depth and contemplation. This subtle
resonance enriches the texture of the language, giving it an emotional dimension that draws readers in,
creating an immersive experience.
• Consonance: repetition of a consonant in the medial or final position. In advertising or literary language it
creates hard sound. Ex.: Beanz Meanz Heinz [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC1ZlszxYyY]
Consonance mirrors assonance, except it involves the repetition of consonant sounds in medial or final
positions. For instance, in the advertising slogan Beans Means Heinz, consonance occurs with the “N”
sounds, but a distinctive twist is added when “means” ends with a “Z” sound rather than the expected
“S,” producing a hard, memorable effect. Such linguistic playfulness exemplifies the creativity in language
that strengthens brand identity and makes advertisements more engaging.
• Onomatopeia: is when the sound of a word directly links to its meaning. Ex.: ...at night when the wind
rose, the lash of the tree Shrieked and slashed the wind... D.H. Lawrence, 'Discord in Childhood', 1909
Onomatopoeia is another rhetorical tool that reinforces meaning by mimicking real-world sounds, such
as crash, bang, or shriek. By directly linking a sound to its meaning, onomatopoeic words draw an
immediate sensory reaction, allowing readers to almost hear the action or emotion described. This
directness brings language alive, making descriptions more vivid and impactful. For instance, shriek
immediately conveys the sharpness of the sound, embodying the scream it represents. Onomatopoeia is
particularly effective in poetry, children’s literature, and any text aiming to create an auditory connection
to its readers.
FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE
METAPHORS
Metaphorical language is important to achieve a successful persuasive discourse. It allows a speaker or writer
to combine everyday language with devices that create special semantic effects. Metonymies and metaphors
play an important role in this process, enabling the passage from literal to figurative meaning.
Shifting from sound devices to figurative language, metaphors are invaluable rhetorical tools that describe
one thing in terms of another to deepen meaning. Metaphors enable language to communicate complex
ideas through associations, transforming literal descriptions into figurative expressions.
A metaphor describes one thing in terms of another, creating an implicit comparison. Actually, it is an implicit
form of simile:
• Mary is a tiger
• SPORT CARS are freedom
• My daughter is a sun
For example, saying Mary is a tiger implicitly compares her fierceness or strength to that of a tiger. This
metaphor makes a comparison without using "like" or "as," differentiating it from a simile. Metaphors can
merge distinct semantic fields—as in the case of humans and animals—creating a fusion of meaning that
enriches understanding.
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In order to make sense of metaphors one should analyse its lowest-level constituent of signification (semes:
semantic units)
METAPHORS OPERATE ON TWO SEMANTIC LEVELS:
1) Semantic inconsistency: a seemingly illogical juxtaposition of terms belonging to different semantic
fields:
Desert sands [...] melting into yellow wax, and [...] running on the horizon.
(1. Deserts sands... melting / 2. desert sands... running)
/hard/vs/soft /and /solid/vs/liquid/ (sands (...) melting»);
Seme /inanimate/vs/animate/: («sands […] running»);
IsotopySeme of desert, through the recurrence seme «desert», i.e. «a phenomenon of semic iterativity through
a syntagmatic chain» (Eco)
In the phrase desert sands melting into yellow wax, the metaphor brings together the distinct characteristics
of sand (hard and solid) with those of melting (soft and liquid). Here:
1. Semantic Inconsistency - Hard vs. Soft / Solid vs. Liquid: Sand, which is typically perceived as a hard,
solid substance, is depicted as “melting” like wax, evoking a transformation that would normally be
impossible for sand. The metaphor blends the tangible qualities of sand with the unexpected
softness and fluidity of melting wax, creating an image of sand “softening” under intense desert
heat. This transformation relies on the shared seme of heat, which acts as a unifying force in this
context.
2. Seme: Heat and Color: The common seme here is heat—the extreme temperatures of the desert
make the sands seem pliable, almost liquid, as if they could melt under the intense sunlight.
Additionally, the color yellow, shared by both wax and sunlit sand, subtly reinforces this connection,
creating a layered, sensory experience. The metaphor, by bridging these semantic fields, enhances
our perception of the desert as a place where physical extremes transform even the most solid
elements.
The second metaphor, desert sands running on the horizon, continues to explore this semantic inconsistency
by attributing human qualities to sand:
1. Semantic Inconsistency - Inanimate vs. Animate: Sand, as an inanimate object, cannot "run."
However, the metaphor allows for this animate quality to be superimposed onto the sands,
suggesting a scene where sand appears to move actively. The wind shaping the dunes, or the mirage
effect, might give the impression of “running” sands. This association implies movement and vitality,
an energy that transforms the desert from a static to a dynamic landscape.
2. Seme: Movement and Transformation: The seme of movement links these otherwise disparate
ideas. By describing the sands as “running,” the metaphor evokes the idea of shifting dunes and a
constantly changing horizon. It emphasizes how natural forces, like the wind, alter the desert's
landscape, making the sands appear as though they are in perpetual motion. This image resonates
with the idea of the desert as both timeless and ever-changing.
Isotopy and Seme Recurrence: Desert as a Recurring Theme
In both examples, the metaphor relies on isotopy—the recurrence of the desert theme, marked by the
repetition of “desert sands.” Isotopy involves the semic iterativity (repetition of a theme across a text),
creating a cohesive effect through semantic consistency. Each metaphor elaborates on the desert’s harsh
environment, emphasizing its qualities (heat, movement, transformation) through different lenses. The
recurrence of these semic elements (desert, heat, movement) in a syntagmatic chain (a sequence of related
words and phrases) reinforces the central imagery of the desert, creating a vivid, unified picture.
Through metaphors, language operates on dual semantic levels, leading to semantic inconsistencies that are
apparent contradictions. These inconsistencies are not flaws but rather enhance the metaphor’s impact by
creating new associations. For instance, Sport cars are freedom and My daughter is a sun each blend two
seemingly unrelated ideas. The cars metaphorically represent freedom, while the daughter’s comparison to
the sun conveys brightness and joy. By using metaphors, speakers and writers invite readers to explore
associations within language, making the abstract concrete and the unfamiliar relatable.
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2) At a deeper level, the different terms making up a metaphor always have one seme (semantic unit) in
common. In the previous example, the seme that implicitly unites the gap between «desert sands» and
«melting into wax», is that of heat + colour
«sands» and «running»: movement
Metaphors require a complex mental operation. Forcing the reader through its very polysemy to grasp two
levels of signification in one mental act, they contribute to a considerable enrichment of meaning.
Dead metaphors are another category, representing phrases that have lost their original metaphorical
impact due to frequent use. Expressions such as the hands of a clock or the legs of a table once conveyed
figurative comparisons, but now they are part of everyday language, with their metaphorical origin faded
from common awareness. These expressions are no longer surprising or imaginative, having become so
embedded in language that their metaphorical nature is hardly noticed.
Love is a losing game – Amy Winehouse
https://youtu.be/nMO5Ko_77Hk?si=88lu_VFQYOMm3lFx
Amy Winehouse’s Love Is a Losing Game is rich in metaphorical
language, using imagery from the worlds of gambling and fire to
convey the complexities and emotional weight of love.
1) Love as a Game (and Gambling)
The central metaphor in Love Is a Losing Game likens love to a
game—specifically, one that is high-risk, like gambling. This
comparison establishes a relationship between two distinct
semantic fields: feelings (love, emotion) and gambling (risk,
unpredictability). Love, in this context, is portrayed as a game with
unpredictable outcomes, where stakes are high, and the chance of
losing is significant. The shared seme here is risk, as both love and
gambling involve a level of vulnerability, with the possibility of
gaining or losing something precious.
• Lyrics Analysis: Phrases like Love is a losing game and Love is
a losing hand emphasize the doomed nature of the relationship,
suggesting that no matter how the game is played, loss is inevitable.
This metaphor creates a sense of helplessness, illustrating love as an
unwinnable situation where each "hand" or "move" leads closer to
inevitable heartache. It captures the speaker’s disillusionment,
highlighting the emotional toll that love, much like gambling, can
have on someone.
2) I Was a Flame
The line For you, I was a flame introduces another powerful
metaphor, where the speaker likens herself to a flame. This
comparison spans the semantic fields of human experience
(identity, emotions) and fire (intensity, transience). Flames are often
associated with passion, energy, and intensity, but they are also
fleeting, consuming fuel until they burn out. The metaphor suggests that the speaker’s love, like a flame, was
intense and consuming but perhaps short-lived.
• Shared Seme: Passion: The shared seme here is passion. By describing herself as a flame, the
speaker conveys the strength and fervor of her feelings, which burned brightly but could not be
sustained. This image encapsulates the emotional highs and lows of love, where initial passion
eventually fades, leaving only the aftermath. In this way, I was a flame hints at both the intensity of
her feelings and the inevitable end that awaits such intensity.
3) Love as a Losing Hand
In the line Love is a losing hand, the metaphor is extended with the concept of a hand in gambling—a set of
cards dealt to a player. This phrase strengthens the comparison between love and gambling, portraying each
decision or “hand” as leading to loss. Here, love is depicted not just as a game, but as one where every turn
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and decision compounds the speaker's losses. This reinforces the theme of inevitability and resignation
within the lyrics.
• Seme of Inevitability: The recurring metaphor of love as a doomed game reflects a sense of
inevitability—the feeling that no matter how the speaker tries, the outcome is predetermined, much
like a rigged game or a “losing hand.” It captures the speaker’s resignation to the idea that love, for
her, will end in loss, underscoring a painful sense of fate and helplessness.
4) Love as Fate Resigned
The line Love is a fate resigned deepens the theme of inevitability, suggesting that the speaker has accepted
that her fate in love is to experience loss. This phrase pulls from the semantic fields of destiny (fate) and
resignation (acceptance of the inevitable). In saying that love is “a fate resigned,” the speaker implies a kind
of surrender to the forces beyond her control, as if love is a path she is fated to walk, despite its painful
outcomes.
• Seme of Resignation: The shared seme here is acceptance or resignation. This metaphor conveys
the idea that the speaker has moved from resistance to acceptance, resigning herself to love’s losses
as an inescapable destiny. It highlights the emotional toll that repeated loss has taken on her, leaving
her with a sense of weariness and inevitability.
• An oxymoron uses two (apparently) contradictory words, put together to create a special effect.
Examples:
o deliciuos poison
o Robin Hood was an honest thief
o "Fearful symmetry" (Blake, The Tiger)
o "dark with excessive bright" (Milton, Paradise Lost)
Among other rhetorical devices, the oxymoron combines contradictory words to create a striking
juxtaposition. Phrases like fearful symmetry or delicious poison force readers to reconcile opposite
ideas, heightening the impact of the statement. Blake’s fearful symmetry, for example, captures the
unsettling beauty of the tiger’s form, where symmetry evokes calm and balance, yet the tiger itself
embodies danger. This oxymoronic phrase effectively conveys both beauty and fear, demonstrating
the powerful effect of combining opposites.
• A paradox consists of an apparently self- contradictory statement which contains some kind of deeper
meaning below the surface: War is peace. Freedom is slavery (George Orwell, 1984)
In contrast, a paradox is a full statement that seems self-contradictory yet reveals a deeper truth
upon reflection. George Orwell’s line, War is peace; freedom is slavery, exemplifies the paradox by
pairing ideas that seem irreconcilable but illustrate underlying themes of control and irony.
Paradoxes, like metaphors, compel readers to question assumptions and consider the deeper
implications of the words.
• Personification is the term used when an object or idea is given human qualities. Examples: "Pathetic
fallacy" (John Ruskin, 1856): when inanimate natural objects are given human capabilities, sensations
and emotions
Personification is another effective rhetorical device, giving human qualities to inanimate objects or
abstract ideas. For instance, describing sand as “running on the horizon” ascribes a human action
(running) to an inanimate element, lending an image of movement and vitality. In literature, such as
the works of John Ruskin, this effect is called pathetic fallacy, wherein natural elements, like trees or
animals, take on human traits or emotions. However, personification can be an ambivalent discourse
when it places human attributes onto non-human subjects, potentially imposing a human-centric
view of the world.
• In a simile two things are explicitly compared by using a marker such as the preposition like or as:
And the cold postman [...] tingled down the tea-tray-slithered run of the chilly glinting hill. He went in
his ice-bound boots like a man on fishmonger's slabs. He wagged his bag like a frozen camel's hump.
Dylan Thomas, 'A Child's Christmas in Wales'
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The simile is a simpler figurative device than the metaphor, as it explicitly compares two things using
"like" or "as." This straightforward comparison makes the relationship between the ideas more
accessible. For example, describing someone’s smile as bright as the sun immediately conveys an
image of warmth and positivity, allowing readers to connect with the idea directly. Similes are
commonly used in everyday language as well as in literature due to their clarity and ease of
understanding.
TESTI PER L’ESAME ORALE

A butterfly: ‘elbowing each other with the joints on their legs, pushing and shoving
to get at the liquid’
Helen Sullivan
Fonte: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/01/a-butterfly-elbowing-each-other-with-the-
joints-on-their-legs-pushing-and-shoving-to-get-at-the-liquid
presagio
We learn about butterflies when we are small because it is foreshadowing: you too will change. But they are
an imperfect metaphor for what it feels like to live
↓
The very funny naturalist and writer Redmond O’Hanlon was on a sandbank on the edge of a river in Borneo
when hundreds of butterflies started to fly towards him and his travel companion and landed on their boots,
trousers, and shirts, and “sucked the sweat from our arms.”
↓ Coda di rondine ⓡ↓
He watched them for a while – “there were Whites, Yellows and Blues, Swallow-tails, black, banded, or
spotted with blue-greens” – and then stood up and brushed them off gently.
He writes, in Into the Heart of Borneo: “I walked away from my companion the mandatory few yards and took
↓
a pee myself. Whilst my patch of urine was still steaming slightly on the muddy sand, the males of Rajah’s
sgomitare ⓡ ⓡ
birdwing […] flew over and crowded down on it, elbowing each other with the joints on their legs, pushing
and shoving to get at the liquid, the brilliant feather-shaped marks on their black wings trembling slightly as
they fed. I began, prematurely, to feel a part of things.”
This happens a few times on his journey – between the leeches and worms and catfish and fears of centipedes
sanguisughe ↓ Prendere energia ⓡ
and more leeches – butterflies drinking his urine, his sweat, feeding off his damp clothing as he lays it out on
Tenero ⓡ Sdolcinate ⓡ
a rock to dry. It’s surprising, endearing: butterflies aren’t so cheesy after all.
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I have only once seen a group of butterflies – I refuse to use collective nouns, they all seem fake, it
svolazzioⓡ macigno ⓡ
is not called a “kaleidoscope of butterflies”, it is not called a “flutter” – take flight off a large boulder next to a
Voltarsi di scatto ⓡ
stream. I was walking alone, just out of sight of a group of adults, and whipped around to try to show
somebody. It seemed utterly like magic. It was a very particular day; I was conscious that I was changing, my
body stretching out from a child to a gangly teenager. I was getting used to it, I felt grown up, quite beautiful,
Ruscello, ↓
stepping from rock to rock in a dress, introspectively crossing and recrossing the stream.
I began, prematurely, to feel a part of things, too. We learn about butterflies when we are small because it is
Strofinare ⓡ
foreshadowing: you too will change. Then you are told that if the dust on a butterfly’s wings rubs off, the
polvere
butterfly will remain earth-bound and die. It is a myth, and what seems like dust is actually scales. But it is
Squame | bilancia → polisemia ⓡ
true that butterflies can’t replace their scales: when they are very old, they sometimes have clear patches on
their wings.
But butterflies are an imperfect metaphor – an imperfect preparation – for what it feels like to live. They
Fase da larva ↓
change too permanently after their caterpillarhood. To me anyway, life feels more like being inside a pupa,
↓ riadattare costantemente
liquified, key structures intact, rearranging myself perpetually into something new. And feeling
ⓡ
always, always, just a little slimy.
“Whites, Yellows and Blues”
Butterflies are discussed as a central element, with specific examples such as "whites," "yellows," and "blues"
used to illustrate the categorization of nature within texts.
In linguistic terminology, hyponyms and superordinates are crucial concepts that help categorize and
organize information. A hyponym is a word or phrase that represents a specific instance of a broader
category, known as a superordinate. For example, the term "swallowtails" is a hyponym under the
superordinate category of "butterflies."
This linguistic framework illustrates humanity's inherent tendency to establish hierarchies and systems within
the natural world. By categorizing specific types of butterflies under the general term "butterflies," individuals
can more easily navigate and understand the complexities of ecosystems. This method of classification not
only facilitates communication but also enhances our comprehension of biodiversity.
Metonymy is a linguistic device where a part of something, or a closely related attribute, is used to represent
the whole. In the case of butterflies, using terms like "whites" or "yellows" serves as a metonym for "white
butterflies" or "yellow butterflies." This usage demonstrates how language simplifies and condenses complex
information into more manageable forms.
Parallels are drawn between this linguistic phenomenon and political language, such as using "the
White House" to signify the President or the U.S. government, even though the White House itself is
merely a building.
This form of metonymy is prevalent in environmental texts, as it shapes how the audience understands and
relates to natural entities. By reducing nature to simplified, recognizable terms, metonymy enables a
connection between the reader and the environment, though it may also obscure the complexity of
ecological systems.
Semantic Fields
Various elements such as rivers, streams, ecosystems, and animals (particularly butterflies) are highlighted.
These elements form interconnected semantic fields that structure the discourse surrounding nature. By
identifying these fields, a deeper understanding of how language categorizes and organizes environmental
elements is achieved.
Human-Nature Relationships
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The exploration of human beings' relationship with nature in ecolinguistic texts often hinges on whether
humans are viewed as integral to nature or as separate entities. This dichotomy significantly influences the
overarching message conveyed in environmental discourse. If humans are depicted as part of nature, it
reinforces an ecological perspective emphasizing interconnectedness. Conversely, portraying humans as
detached suggests a more anthropocentric viewpoint.
Romanticization vs. Realistic Depictions of Nature
Butterflies, typically associated with beauty, freedom, and transformation, are focal points for contrasting
idealized images with ecological realities. Descriptions of butterflies consuming sweat and urine challenge the
traditional romantic view, portraying them in a less glamorous and more functional light. This reality disrupts
symbolic associations between butterflies and concepts like beauty or change, revealing a more intricate
ecological truth.By presenting butterflies in this manner, texts aim to normalize less appealing aspects of
nature, suggesting that such behaviors are integral to a balanced ecosystem.
The Metaphorical Significance of Transformation
The metaphor of a butterfly's transformation is often compared to human experiences of growth and change.
The life cycle of a butterfly—transitioning from caterpillar to pupa to butterfly—parallels stages of human
development, such as adolescence and maturity. While this metaphor illustrates transformation, it also
acknowledges its limitations. Just as butterflies retain traces of their earlier stages, humans carry remnants of
their past selves.This metaphorical analysis reveals how nature serves as a tool for understanding human
experiences, showing that metaphors can be both enlightening and constraining.
Compiti per martedì 08/10
Articolo da leggere e riassumere in poche righe:
The article talks about visiting Borneo and observing butterflies drawn to sweat and urine. According to the
author, life is a continuous process of major changes, much as how butterflies constantly morph. This is
something we learn as children. Helen Sullivan considers her early years as well, pointing out that the
butterfly symbolizes the inevitability of change in life. Similar to how a butterfly may lose some of its scales
and yet survive, so too can humans adjust to change and develop through it. This supports the notion that
change is a lifelong process.

Scrivere 150 parole su questo testo, compresi campi semantici e significati vari
Helen Sullivan's text uses butterflies to discuss change and transformation. She talks of how, in nature,
butterflies do such unexpected things as feed on sweat and urine, showing less beauty within the insect. At
ⓡ
one point, Sullivan describes the scene of butterflies taking off in flight off a rock near the stream and how
such a moment was magical and important for her. She connects this memory to her personal processes of
maturation and change, thus relating butterflies with an idea of personal evolution. However, she underlines
that butterflies change only once, while people keep changing all their lives, being similar to some kind of
permanent cocoon with all kinds of different changes. Thus, life turns out to be a process, much more
complicated than just one-time butterfly transformation.
China’s skyscraping pig farms are high on the hog, and their advanced tech feeds
into food-security drive
Fonte: https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3238674/chinas-skyscraping-pig-farms-are-
high-hog-and-their-advanced-tech-feeds-food-security-drive
High-rise structures such as one in Ezhou, Hubei province, are becoming increasingly common across China
and utilise the most advanced smart-farming technologies
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Beijing has been ramping up efforts to increase food production in the face of climate change, supply-chain
upheavals and turbulent geopolitical tensions
A 26-storey skyscraper in central China’s Hubei province, towering over every building nearby, could easily
be mistaken for a typical residential complex. The imposing structure indeed features air-conditioned rooms,
an area for exercise, and windows with a sweeping view of the streets far below.
But the residents are not affluent white-collar workers, nor are they local families who got a good deal on rent
– they are pigs.
Towering pig farms have been popping up around the country in recent years, highlighting China’s ambitions
in smart farming – an increasingly essential undertaking in central leadership’s food-security drive.
Smart-farming technologies are being integrated into all sorts of agricultural practices across China to ensure a
stable food supply for 1.4 billion people. The utilised tools include artificial intelligence, the Internet of
Things, big data, cloud computing, and other types of digital technology.
Beijing has vowed to do all it can to ensure that farmers have adequate agricultural supplies, and policymakers
encouraged the use of intensive and industrialised farming in the government’s “No 1 central document”,
which was released in February and focuses on rural development.
A joint announcement by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
in 2019 also allowed for multistorey buildings to be used as farming facilities.
Fuelled by favourable policies and technological advancements, the value of China’s smart-livestock-farming
market is projected to reach 47.7 billion yuan (US$6.52 billion) by 2026, according to a report published last
year by LeadLeo, a market research institution.
“We are now entering an era of digitisation, and undoubtedly, smart farming is an inevitable future, as well as
a representation of technological advancement,” said Zhang Shuai, a professor specialising in pig-farming
technology at China Agricultural University.
The eye-catching pig farm in Hubei’s Ezhou, south of the Yangtze River, opened last October. And another one
is currently being built right next door. At full capacity, the two buildings are expected to produce 1.2 million
fully grown pigs a year.
Proponents of high-rise pig farms say they use a fraction of the land, and the use of advanced technology
allows for only about a dozen workers to manage thousands of pigs on each floor.
Such farms are also being used in Sichuan, Guangdong and Shandong provinces.
Beijing has been ramping up efforts to increase food production in the face of climate change, supply-chain
upheavals and turbulent geopolitical tensions.
As educated young workers are increasingly reluctant to get their hands dirty, smart farming also provides a
solution to the labour shortage, according to Zhang.
“As very few young people are willing to engage in frontline livestock farming, it is inevitable that the future
model of the livestock industry will become less labour-intensive, or even automated,” Zhang said. “This is a
challenge shared by China and other countries.”
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Advanced technology is used to help run a 26-storey pig farm in Ezhou, Hubei province. Photo: Xinhua
However, when that down-and-dirty pigpen work is left to the machines, more people might be interested in
working in the livestock farming industry, Zhang added.
Pork is a staple meat on Chinese dinner tables, and China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of
pork.
The country consumes nearly 700 million pigs each year, and that represents around 60 to 70 per cent of
Chinese people’s meat consumption. It also accounts for roughly half of the global pig population. In 2022,
China produced about 55.4 million tonnes of pork.
The nation’s 14th five-year plan emphasised the need to ensure stable pig production, as well as to maintain a
self-sufficiency rate of around 95 per cent, with an annual output of about 55 million tonnes of pork.
Other parts of China have already leveraged digital and intelligent devices to make agricultural innovations.
These include an aquaculture system that can continuously monitor seawater parameters such as pH levels and
dissolved oxygen, helping farmers breed more fish.
However, Zhang contended that, despite Ezhou’s utilisation of smart-farming technologies, the viability of
high-rise pig farms should be critically discussed, as they are not suitable everywhere.
He said that multistorey pig farms have not gone mainstream for a reason – the treatment of faeces requires
corresponding areas of land, and it could be a major challenge for such pig farms to process massive amounts
of pig manure.
“We encourage a moderate-scale approach to farming, one that emphasises sustainability and ecological
recycling,” he said. “This entails the promotion of environmentally friendly and well-balanced livestock
farming.”
Another significant challenge in high-rise pig farming is disease prevention and control.
“Despite the implementation of air-filtration systems … many diseases among pigs can be transmitted through
droplets and the air, spreading rapidly” and exposing the animals to greater health risks, Zhang explained.
To apply the principles of ecolinguistics and ecosophy, the example of the 26-story pig skyscraper in China is
examined. This building, designed for intensive pig farming, exemplifies how language and narratives frame
industrial practices. The skyscraper, promoted as a solution to food security, represents a narrative that
positions animals as mere instruments for human consumption, disregarding their well-being.
This example highlights the role of language in framing animals as objects within a mechanized system
designed solely for human benefit. The story presented by this narrative is one of exploitation and control,
showing how language can be used to normalize and justify practices that are ecologically and ethically
questionable. The text describing this skyscraper reveals a story embedded with values that prioritize
efficiency over compassion, illustrating the need for critical analysis through the lens of ecosophy.
Developing Personal Ecosophies for Text Analysis

Ecolinguistics encourages the development of individual ecosophies to guide the interpretation and critique
of texts. An ecosophy, such as one that emphasizes respect for animal life, provides a foundation for analyzing
texts critically and ethically. By grounding ecolinguistic analysis in such principles, it becomes possible to
identify and challenge ideologies that promote ecological harm, as seen in the case of industrial farming
narratives.
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Jeremy Clarkson: My ham-fisted attempt at pig-breeding

Fonte: The Times, 1 January 2023, caricato su Teams
I’ve always loved pigs, so now I’m a pig farmer.

Ho sempre amato i maiali, quindi ora sono un allevatore di maiali.
↓
Cheerful Charlie Ireland, my land agent, says this is the stupidest idea I’ve had yet and wants no part of it.
Il solare Charlie Ireland, il mio agente immobiliare, dice che questa è l’idea più stupida che abbia mai avuto e
non vuole averci nulla a che fare.
ⓡ
And Kaleb was so unpleased that he got into his pick-up truck and went to Cornwall for a week.
E Kaleb era così scontento che è salito sul suo pick-up ed è andato in Cornovaglia per una settimana.
ⓡ
My logic, though, is sound. Pigs are much cheaper to buy than cows or sheeps, and unlike most other
farmyard animals they don’t produce one or two babies.
La mia logica, tuttavia, è fondata. I maiali sono molto più economici da acquistare rispetto alle mucche o alle
pecore, e a differenza della maggior parte degli altri animali da fattoria non producono uno o due cuccioli.
ⓡ ⓡ ↓ ⓡ |ⓡ
They hose them out like machinegun bullets. So you buy ten pigs for a few quid and three months later you
↓
have ten million. That’s profit, right there. Pure, naked profit.
Li sfornano come proiettili di mitragliatrice. Quindi compri dieci maiali per pochi soldi e tre mesi dopo ne hai
dieci milioni. Ecco il profitto, puro e semplice profitto.
To make the financials look even better I decided to keep the pigs in a field that was full of potatoes that had
been rendered unharvestable by the summer drought.
Per rendere i conti ancora migliori ho deciso di tenere i maiali in un campo pieno di patate che erano
diventate irrecuperabili a causa della siccità estiva.
I was going to let them rot but now, thanks to my brilliant new plan, they’d be used as pig food.
Stavo per lasciarle marcire, ma ora, grazie al mio nuovo piano brillante, sarebbero state usate come cibo per i
maiali.
ⓡ
Charlie responded to this argument by rolling his eyes and going home, which meant that Lisa and I had to
spend a week or two learning an all-new language: pig.
Charlie ha risposto a questa affermazione roteando gli occhi e andando a casa, il che significava che Lisa ed
io dovevamo passare una o due settimane imparando una lingua completamente nuova: quella dei
maiali.(maialese/porchese)
You might think it’s easy. You’ve got piglets and sows and boars, and that’s it. But you’re wrong.
Potresti pensare che sia facile. Hai i maialini, le scrofe e i cinghiali, e basta. Ma ti sbagli.
In the same way that cow and sheep farmers use words that would cause arguments in a game of Scrabble, I’ve
ⓡ ⓡ
learnt that in “pig” you have weaners and gilts and that when you have a sow that isn’t pregnant you describe
her as “empty”.
Allo stesso modo in cui gli allevatori di mucche e pecore usano parole che causerebbero discussioni in una
partita di Scarabeo, ho scoperto che nel “linguaggio dei maiali” ci sono i “weaners” e le “gilts” e che
quando hai una scrofa che non è incinta la descrivi come “vuota”.
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And then we had to get into the business of what breed to buy. The choice is endless but, in the end, we went
ⓡ
for something called the Oxford Shandy and Black.
E poi dovevamo decidere quale razza acquistare. La scelta è infinita, ma alla fine abbiamo optato per
qualcosa chiamato “Oxford Shandy and Black”.
Partly because they have comedic ears that grow over their eyes, so they literally cannot see where they’re
going, and partly because “shandy and black” sounds like the sort of thing a northern girl would order in a
Zante nitespot.
In parte perché hanno orecchie buffe che crescono sopra gli occhi, quindi letteralmente non possono vedere
dove stanno andando, e in parte perché “shandy and black” suona come qualcosa che una ragazza del nord
ordinerebbe in un locale notturno a Zante.
But mostly because it’s a breed that is thought to have been created in Wychwood Forest, which I can see from
my kitchen window.
Ma principalmente perché è una razza che si pensa sia stata creata nella Foresta di Wychwood, che posso
vedere dalla finestra della mia cucina.
And because a few years ago there were only a handful of boars left in the entire world. This, then, is a breed
that gives the panda hope.
E perché qualche anno fa c’erano solo una manciata di cinghiali rimasti in tutto il mondo. Quindi, questa è
una razza che dà speranza al panda.
In analyzing a specific text, it is crucial to identify semantic fields—the groups of words that create a network
of meanings within the text. By mapping these fields, one can discern the underlying stories and ideologies
that the text conveys.
• For instance, economic terminology like profit, land agent, and naked profit may reveal an ideology
that commodifies nature.
• Additionally, language associated with violence, such as references to machine gun bullets,
introduces a war-like metaphorical frame that distances the reader from the natural beings
described.
Such semantic fields, when associated with animals or the environment, expose how language transforms
living beings into objects, emphasizing their economic value over their intrinsic worth.
This transformation is a form of objectification or reification, where animals are reduced to commodities or
tools. Terms like commodification and reification describe this process, where animals are no longer seen as
sentient beings but as resources to be managed and exploited.
Conventional language reinforces these ideologies, establishing norms that may conceal harmful
perspectives about nature. Even seemingly neutral phrases like produce instead of give birth subtly reinforce
the idea of animals as objects of production rather than living creatures.
Analyzing language patterns in this way not only uncovers how societal norms are embedded in everyday
discourse but also highlights how these norms shape perceptions of the environment.Mainstream ideologies,
such as the economic perspective that views animals primarily as sources of profit, become evident through
linguistic choices. This reinforces the need for ecolinguistic analysis to critique and uncover the hidden
ideologies present in such texts. For instance, discussing pigs as commodities rather than living beings is part
of a widespread ideology prevalent across societies and economic systems. This view, which portrays animals
primarily in terms of their utility to humans, supports the commodification and exploitation of animals. This
ideology, deeply embedded in language, influences societal attitudes and practices regarding animals,
shaping everything from food production systems to entertainment industries.
Critical ecolinguistic analysis aims to challenge such ideologies by proposing new ways of representing nature
and animals in language. This involves developing new stories to live by, narratives that prioritize ecological
well-being and recognize the intrinsic value of nature. By shifting the linguistic framework used to describe
Pag. 29 di 30
de Martino Rosa
the natural world, ecolinguistics seeks to transform societal perceptions and promote more sustainable and
ethical interactions with the environment. When analyzing texts critically, it is essential to identify whether
they reinforce or challenge dominant ideologies. This requires a thorough understanding of the text’s
language, tone, and structure. For instance, the use of straightforward, assertive language may indicate an
author’s confidence in their worldview, while the inclusion of irony or humor could suggest a more
complex engagement with the subject matter. An analysis of how pigs are described may reveal that they are
often portrayed as mere objects or tools for profit, aligned with an economic narrative that values efficiency
over ethical considerations. This aligns with mainstream economic discourse, which tends to devalue non-
human life forms and prioritize profit. The role of ecolinguistics is to expose these narratives and
propose alternatives that align with ethical and sustainable views of nature. Identifying metaphors and
metonymies in the text can further illustrate how language shapes our understanding of animals and
nature.
Metaphors, such as comparing animals to machines or referring to them as empty when they are not
pregnant, reveal a tendency to objectify and devalue non-human beings. These linguistic choices reinforce a
commodifying ideology, making it necessary for ecolinguists to examine and critique the deeper meanings
embedded in language. The interaction between language and ideology demonstrates the reciprocal
relationship where language not only reflects societal values but also shapes them. By presenting animals as
objects of profit, the language in the text reinforces the ideology that animals are commodities.
Changing this narrative requires developing new linguistic patterns and frameworks that
recognize the inherent value of all beings. Through such analysis, ecolinguistics challenges the conventional
ways society talks about nature, advocating for a language that supports ecological ethics and a deeper
understanding of our place within the natural world. By doing so, it aims to cultivate new perspectives that
could lead to transformative changes in how society interacts with and perceives the environment.
Scrivere circa 150 parole su questo testo la propria ecosofia.
ECOSOPHY : BIOEMPATHY
Bioempathy is a concept rooted in the principles of feng shui, an ancient chinese practise that promotes
harmony between humans and their environment. At its core bioempathy proposes that adopting an ethical
lifestyle can have a favourable impact on personal health as well, as the overall well being of our planet.
STATEMENT
We should embrace a lifestyle that values all living beings as emphasized in the principles of feng shui. This
means viewing animals, plants and environment not as commodities to be exploited but as components of
our world. Bioempathy inspires us to shift from an economic approach and instead adopt an empathetic way
of living together.
Pag. 30 di 30
de Martino Rosa

Lingua Inglese III

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Università Degli Studi “G.

DIPARTIMENTO DI LINGUE, LETTERATURE E

LINGUA INGLESE III

Docente Afferente del Corso: Appunti di:

Dott.ssa Emanuela Ettorre Rosa Pia de Martino

ANNO ACCADEMICO 2024/2025

Legenda dei FONT usati:

5° Lezione - Appunti 15.10.2024

WHAT MAKES US HUMAN?

“Since the stories are mental models R they cannot be analysed

A case study examines the BBC documentary titled What Makes Us

6° Lezione - Appunti 16.10.2024

WHAT TO DO WITH AN ECOSOPHY?

(LETTURA) Jeremy Clarkson: My ham-fisted attempt at pig-breeding

7° Lezione - Appunti 22.10.2024

The Stories We Live By(video)

The Role of Political Ideologies

• IDEOLOGIES DESTRUCTIVE DISCOURSES: mainstream economic discourses

8° Lezione - Appunti 05.11.2024

ENGLISH LANGUAGE RHETORIC AND STYLISTIC DEVICES

TESTI PER L’ESAME ORALE

Compiti per martedì 15/10

Developing Personal Ecosophies for Text Analysis

Jeremy Clarkson: My ham-fisted attempt at pig-breeding

I’ve always loved pigs, so now I’m a pig farmer.

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