Language & Power Podcast

In the fourth episode of series 2, Tom and Michael discuss Sue Gray’s (UK senior civil servant) update to her investigation in ‘partygate’- the allegations that senior members of the UK government held numerous illegal parties and social events, in government buildings, throughout periods of COVID lockdowns. How does she use the generic conventions of the ‘report’?

INVESTIGATION INTO ALLEGED GATHERINGS ON GOVERNMENT PREMISES DURING COVID RESTRICTIONS – UPDATE

Wikipedia: Partygate

In the third episode of series 2, Tom and Michael look back at the Glasgow Climate Pact. What kind of document is it, what is its purpose? We discuss some of the limitations of the pact.

The Times: We must turn historic Cop26 words into action, says Alok Sharma

The Glasgow Climate Pact (COP26)

In the second episode of series 2, Tom and Michael examine some of the semantics of the UK political scandal ‘partygate’. Powerful people at the centre of the Westminster government are accused of repeatedly having flouted and broken their own ‘lockdown’ rules by having social gatherings and parties in Downing Street and other government offices.

Audio clip: 'Because we followed the guidance' thinking.

In the first episode of series 2, Tom and Michael examine some of the reporting on the invasion of Ukraine. We use ideas about conversational implicature in our discussion of the racist discourse apparent in some of this reporting.

Audio clip: Trevor Noah saying what we’ve all been thinking.

Partly Political Podcast: Paddington and the Bear

In the final episode of the series we discuss some of the language of the ‘Glasgow climate pact’ and a range of responses to it.

Glasgow Climate Pact

Michael Mann tweet

BBC - COP26: Climate deal sounds the death knell for coal power - PM

Sharma apology

BBC - How might decisions at the climate summit change our lives?

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What could 2050 look like? In today’s episode we are joined by Catherine Happer, of the University of Glasgow, to discuss social media communication on the climate crisis. We look in detail at a TikTok post which described a bleak future.

TikTok: What does 2050 look like?

Catherine Happer has also spoken on the University of Glasgow Spot Light podcast and works with the Glasgow University Media Group

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How are emotional responses to climate change represented, especially those of young people, an to what effect? For today’s episode we are joined by Kate Smith, of the University of Hull, to discuss representations of anxiety, anger and caring.

UKRI: Programme launched to tackle climate anxiety in young people

BBC: Climate change: Young people very worried - survey

BBC: COP26: Obama tells young people to stay angry on climate fight

Twitter: Dr Lucky Tran - Carl Sagan

National Youth Theatre: On the Edge

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What part does social media have to play in the politics of COP 26? For today’s episode we are joined by Johnny Unger, of Lancaster University, to talk about critical social media and the ‘official’ social media of COP 26.

Twiter: Greta Thunberg 'Total emissions of the richest' tweet

Tik Tok: Sophia Smith Galer · Squid game meets #climateaction

Twitter:Alok Sharma 'Obama' tweet

Man announces he will quit drinking by 2050

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How is protest at COP 26 reported? We look at how the weekend demonstrations at COP 26 in Glasgow were reported in two very different news outlets: Democracy Now and The Daily Mail.

Democracy Now: “We Are Not Responsible”: Youth Climate Activists Rally in Glasgow to Demand World Leaders Act Now

Daily Mail Online: More than 50,000 protestors march in Glasgow, London and other British cities to demand action on climate change from COP26 conference

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What part do celebrity interventions have in the public debate on climate crisis around COP 26? In this episode we focus on comments by a consortium of sports stars, including Andy Murray and Tom Daley and a BBC interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Do the interventions raise the ‘background noise’ calling for action? To which audiences do they speak?

BBC Report: Climate change: Andy Murray and Tom Daley join call to COP26 delegates for climate action

BBC Report: COP26: Arnold Schwarzenegger angered by world leaders' climate policies

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