Emerging Voices: The Exorcism of Language: Reclaimed Derogatory Terms and Their Limits

Gregory Coles

doi:10.58680/co201628524

College English May 2016

Emerging Voices: The Exorcism of Language: Reclaimed Derogatory Terms and Their Limits

Gregory Coles Office of Minority Health

Abstract

What dynamics govern the "reclamation" of contested terms? Applying Burke's notion of terministic screens illuminates the reclamation efforts surrounding contested—terms "Black" and "queer," both historically derogatory (and therefore discouraged) and now broadly reclaimed (and acceptable). In such reclamations, redemptive in—nature, the derogatory term is portrayed not as false but as misunderstood. But the reclamation movements surrounding "nigger" and "faggot" have been restricted,—i.e., acceptable only for in-group use (and mockingly directing attention to their derogatory history). Various reclamation narratives challenge the semantic binary—of derogation and reclamation: they indicate not "successes" or "failures" but different styles of reclamation.

Journal: College English
Published: 2016-05-01
DOI: 10.58680/co201628524
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Open Access: Closed
Topics: modern rhetorical theory
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Emerging Voices: The Exorcism of Language: Reclaimed Derogatory Terms and Their Limits

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