In this study, Richard Alexander presents a series of original and empirically based case studies of the language and discourse involved in the discussion of environmental and ecological issues. Relying upon a variety of different text types and genres - including company websites, advertisements, press articles, speeches and lectures - Alexander interrogates how, in the media, press, corporate and activist circles, language is employed to argue for and propagate selected positions on the growing ecological crisis. For example, he asks: How are ecological and environmental concerns articulated in texts? What do we learn about ecological 'problems' through texts from differing sources? What language features accompany ecological discourse in differing contexts and registers? Attention is especially directed at where this discourse comes into contact with business, economic and political concerns.

About the Author

Richard J. Alexander, Full Professor of English Business Communication at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. Publications include Aspects of Verbal Humour in English and New International Business English (co-author Leo Jones).

Reviews

"For anyone interested in language, ecology and politics, the book is an eye-opener and should be compulsory reading."--Alwin Fill, Arbeiten aus Anglistik und Amerikanistik

Book Information
ISBN 9780415888356
Author Richard Alexander
Format Paperback
Page Count 240
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 470g