A war of words : the July 2006 war in Lebanon and the conflict of meanings

Abstract

Language is the tool used for communication in different fields specifically politics and has provided humans with a wide variety of words to use in their daily lives. Although dictionaries, agreements, declarations, conventions, and organizations give objective definitions, that is. meaning of' every word. Every word has more than a meaning fai it has different connotations resulting from various accumulated experiences, intentions, linguistic factors and non-linguistic factors. Thus, meanings of words reflect different points of view. The focus of this thesis is to deal with how the Lebanese Politicians use(l different meanings for the same word reflecting political differences in Lebanon four months before the July 2006 War, during the July 2006 War and four months after the July 2006 War, calling them to cease their abuse of language for the latter is a peaceful means of communication. The first stage in dealing with the case of the different meanings of words reflecting political differences in Lebanon before, (luring and after the July 2006 War is to illustrate how linguistic factors contributed in reflecting political differences in Lebanon. The second stage is to delve into the analysis of various political statements given by different prominent Lebanese leaders before, during and after the July 2006 War. The methodology adopted in the selection of samples taken from the Lebanese political discourse is based upon the political reactions of the Lebanese political parties in support of or against the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1680 before the July 2006 War in relevance to disarmament and delineation of borders. The words used in describing the result of the July 2006 War, such as 'accountability' and 'victory' were given different meanings reflecting differences in political points of view in Lebanon during and after the July 2006 War. The analysis is based on linguistic factors such as theories of meaning, meaningful relations among words and sociolinguistics; no political standpoints or judgments are made in support of or against any of the Lebanese political parties. Objectivity and neutrality are the main elements in conducting such all because this thesis is a case study in the field of linguistics and not politics. Analysis showed that linguistics, specifically semantics, that is meaning, played a role in reflecting political differences through the different meanings given to the same word but used by different Lebanese parties before, during and after the July 2006 War. Various concepts, Views and theories "ere tackled and were essential in discussing how different meanings of words could have led to manipulation, consequently reflecting political differences in Lebanon before, during and after the July 2006 War. Semantics and pragmatics allowed the manipulation of meaning of words in the Lebanese political discourse before, during and after the July 2006 War reflecting political differences in Lebanon as illustrated in chapter three.