ECOLINGUISTICS AND CLIMATE CHANGE DISCOURSE: THE POWER OF LANGUAGE IN SHAPING ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

Abstract

The present study analyses the contribution of language based on the ecolinguistic approach to the development of social cognition and reaction to climate change.  It emphasizes the role of language decisions, metaphors, and stories in building specific understandings of the world that affect perceptions of the environment and actions.  The study follows the qualitative research method based on the theory of ecolinguistics. It explores climate-related discourses in various settings, including the way language constructs ecological realities and the urgency or lack thereof, as well as encouragement or discouragement of action. The results of the study demonstrate that language not only mirrors but also guides environmental consciousness. The use of such terms as “climate crisis” and “global emergency” makes it more urgent, whereas metaphors, such as the “planet is a shared home”, make it feel more shared and, hence, have collective responsibility. The paper has found that ecolinguistics offers a valuable insight into the persuasive nature of the discourse and its moral implications for sustainability. The role of linguistic strategies in making or breaking climate action is brought into the light. This study highlights the relevance of mindful communication in solving the ecological crisis. It also recommends that the new digital and grassroots discourses be investigated in future studies to enhance environmental activism.