Political correctness in North Korea: using invectives toward its enemies

Political correctness concerns “appropriateness” in language, social norms, and ideologies. This mainly refers to semantic and lexical change and censorship mandated not by any single recognized authority but by minorities... [ view full abstract ]

Political correctness concerns “appropriateness” in language, social norms, and ideologies. This mainly refers to semantic and lexical change and censorship mandated not by any single recognized authority but by minorities in capitalist Western societies since about 1970 to conform with the changing notions of political correctness, with a particular focus on correcting prejudicial expressions or attitudes related to inequalities and disadvantaged persons (Hughes, 2010). In this context, using invectives is perceived as “inappropriate” especially in the public discourses in most societies. However, in North Korea the use of invectives and racially charged expressions is taught as politically correct behavior toward its enemies, such as “the US imperialists,” and encouraged even in the public discourses such as its state-run media and in school textbooks. This presentation focuses on the use of invectives in public discourses as part of political correctness in North Korea. Using invectives commonly in public discourses is one of the most salient features in language use of North Korea in the context of sociolinguistics. In this study, I first examine the ideologies behind this North Korean norm of using invectives. Second, I look at the methods the North Korean government disseminates this language norm. Third, I investigate invective in public discourse as a discursive strategy to construct the state ideology in North Korea.

The data I employ are mainly North Korean state-run print media and school textbooks. With a qualitative approach, the methods of Corpus Linguistics are also employed to add a quantitative dimension to this project. This study offers an interesting case for the field of sociolinguistics by providing empirical evidence of using invectives as a discursive strategy employed to construct state ideology in North Korea via print media and educational texts.

Hughes, G. (2010). Political correctness: a history of semantics and culture. John Wiley & Sons.Singapore