Islamic/Islamist

9 posts / 0 new

Topic locked

Mon, 2007-07-23 10:53

Islamic/Islamist

You will all, as people interested in the power of words, have noticed the proliferation in the media - particularly televisual news programmes - of the word 'Islamist'. Intuitively it seems that the word has almost replaced 'Islamic'.

It may be that the BBC - in its desire not to offend moderate Moslem communities - chooses to use the word to distinguish between them and extremist (note the '-ist') or fundamentalist (again) groups.

Communist, Fascist, Racist, Sexist - all terms with negative connotations, you'll agree?

I am no apologist (see!) for terrorist (getting boring now) organisations, but...

My point is that when 'Islamist' does completely replace 'Islamic' in every context, as it surely will, the mostly moderate majority will be one more step down the road to demonisation.

I await brickbats and disagreement in trepidation.
I guess I'm just a pessimist.

Ewan

Mon, 2007-07-23 11:06

poetjude

the ist suffix from the greek istes is generally used to indicate a principle belief or behaviour. You have given a list of usage where connotations are negative but there are an equal number of positive or neutral uses of the suffix. I am a biologist and an artist! Buddhist, canoeist, humanist, receptionist, pacifist, tourist and so on. However, I think you may well be right that 'It may be that the BBC - in its desire not to offend moderate Moslem communities - chooses to use the word to distinguish between them and extremist ' I can't think of any other reason ! I suppose linguistically an Islamist might suggest somebody whose behaviour or opinion is directed by Islamic beliefs but then theologically all muslims would come under this definition. jude "Cacoethes scribendi" http://www.judesworld.net

Mon, 2007-07-23 11:10

ggggareth

The media being what it is, they probably felt the need to come up with a new shorthand for the extreme end of the spectrum. I can't see anything particularly wrong with this, though.

Mon, 2007-07-23 11:17

Ewan

Of course, you are right; there are many neutral and positive -ists (even linguists) and, equally, you are absolutely right that a linguist or lexicographer would support your definition of Islamist. My point is that language is organic and sudden changes of use - even though given legitimacy by dictionary entries - can have consequences, not to say extra nuance and meaning. Or is this all too far down the road of signifiers and semiotics for some? Biologist and artist, both sides of the Brain? My virtual hat is off to a true polymath, PoetJude. regards Ewan

Author Page at the 'Zon

Mon, 2007-07-23 11:23

markbrown

As I understood it, Islamist refers to a particular political set of beliefs, starting with Sayyid Qutb. It's the notion that Islam is not only a set of observed religious ideas but also a political creed. Islamism is a bit like islamic leninism, with revolution being the way to bring about a one world state, in this case a caliphate. So there's a big difference. It's not really correct to talk about radical and moderate muslims, because what you're talking about is people who are religious and people who subscribe to a set of political ideas related to religion. The Beeb is entirely correct in making the distinction. All islamists are muslim, not all muslims are islamist. Cheers, Mark

Mon, 2007-07-23 12:08

(Reply to #5) #6

Ewan

Yes, Mark, I understand and absolutely agree with what you're saying. The point I was trying to make - and obviously not too clearly - is that soon, people less erudite and informed than yourself will not make the distinction -and will use the word Islamist in a different way. You know it does mean a certain faction, I know it does, but.... regards Ewan

Author Page at the 'Zon

Mon, 2007-07-23 12:24

markbrown

This stuff happens with words all of the time anyway. A prejudice will find a way of using a word in such a manner that it becomes a new insult. It's the prejudice that's wrong. There's that John Hegley poem about the Spastics Society changing their name to SCOPE that ends: "F**k off you SCOPE." Cheers, Mark

Mon, 2007-07-23 12:28

ggggareth

This is why Paediatricians all over the world are quaking!

Mon, 2007-07-23 12:32

tom_saunders

DailyMailists? As opposed to the more moderate "British."

Topic locked