LANGUAGE AND IDEOLOGY

Text topic: Globalization and Literature

Text author: Новак Малешевић

This paper deals with the connections established between language and ideology. Ideology forms (produces) signifying structures by which it defines domains of a subject’s actions. The subject takes on the role of an ideology signifier, interpellating itself into the given ideological order. Also, ideology forms structures of a subject’s understanding by having previously interpellated them with the signifying praxis. In this manner, ideology establishes forms through which it conceives and explains the understanding of reality. Reality is then explained by adequate recognizable schemes which are defined by cultural tradition. Furthermore we will notice that every ideological center of power (e.g. regarding social groups which strive to achieve certain goals) forms a specific discourse to assert belonging to a certain sphere of interest. Each interest group speaks in a certain way. The paper ends with an analisys of the problem of symbolic domination as a cultural (signifying) hegemony which one group exerts over another.