Linguistic interdiction in education legislative texts (1986-2006)

Abstract

 This article shows a synthesis of the discursive strategy used by political correct language in the legal educative context in Spain during the last two decades (1986-2006). Euphemism, plastic words and a specific use of grammatical gender provide the structure for those texts, which show a particular vision of the Spanish educative reality that reflects the legislator’s interests. Therefore, I have started from the cosmovision and culture in which those linguistic uses are included, taking into account the communicative intention of legislators as well as the communities at which these texts are addressed. I have also taken into consideration connotation, as it is the connotative meaning the one that lets us perceive the subjective view of the reality projected in language. As an attempt to offer a complete view, I have analysed the linguistic phenomenon of dysphemism in non-legislative texts about education.