The language of "race" and prejudice a discourse of denial, reason, and liberal-practical politics /

During the past 20 years, there has been a burgeoning literature on racial discourse inWestern liberal democracies that has been informed by several disciplines. This literaturehas analysed linguistic and discursive patterns of everyday talk and formal institutionaltalk that can be found in parliamentary debates, political speeches, and themedia. One of the most pervasive features of contemporary race discourse is the denialof prejudice. Increasing social taboos against openly expressing racist sentiments hasled to the development of discursive strategies that present negative views of outgroupsas reasonable and justified while at the same time protecting the speaker fromcharges of racism and prejudice. This research has demonstrated the flexible andambivalent nature of contemporary race discourse. The present article reviews thesediscursive patterns or ways of talking about the other and emphasises the significantcontribution that this work has made to research on language and discrimination