Approaching religion through linguistics: methodological thoughts on a linguistic analysis of 'religion' in political communication

Authors

• Stephanie Garling GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30664/ar.67519

Keywords:

Methodology, Sociology and religion, Religion -- Definition, Concepts, Categories, Politics and religion, Linguistics, Language and religion, Semantics

Abstract

The constructions of ‘religion’ in general language are seldom themselves in the focus of empirical research. Aiming to retrieve the inherent knowledge that lies within these constructions, this article suggests a term-based textual analysis to focus on the linguistic use of ‘religion’. This method invites us to question the unity of texts through an analysis of textual semantics. It offers the chance to ask about the formation of the concept. The article initially shows how this approach differs from comparative and policy-oriented studies by differentiating between criticism and critique. It then develops the idea of a term-based textual analysis. Using examples from the policy field of foreign aid, the text illustrates how much inherent knowledge there is in the usage of ‘religion’ in political communication and calls for a general reconsideration of the way ‘religion’ is approached in empirical research.