Markedness is a linguistic concept that developed out of the Prague School. A marked form is a non-basic or less natural form. An unmarked form is a basic, default form. For example, lion is the unmarked choice in English — it could refer to a male or female lion. But lioness is marked because it can only refer to females. The unmarked forms serve as general terms: e.g. brotherhood of man is sometimes used to refer to all people, both men and women, while sisterhood refers only to women. The form of a word that is conventionally chosen to be the lemma form is typically the form that is the least marked.
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In the wake of the Forbes Magazine publication of its list of the 100 most powerful women, story after story today noted Hillary’s position on the list (36 this year), compared that position with her spot last year (28), and noted the positions of other American women in and out of politics and government, e.g. Nancy Pelosi (35), Kathleen Sibelius (51), Janet Napolitano (56), Michelle Obama (40) and Oprah (41), Wait a minute! What kind of list IS this? Are they serious? Michelle Obama does not have a job for Pete’s sake! She’s more powerful than the Secretary of Homeland Security? I don’t think so!
It is possible that the toxic meme of Hillary in the Shadows has taken some kind of toll on Hillary’s position on this list, but even if it has, a linguistic analysis of recent headlines cannot help but betray the truth about the media’s perception of Hillary no matter how hard they slam her or what other toxic memes her opposition might frame. Let’s take a look at a few from the past few days.
US can benefit from India’s economic progress: Clinton
Clinton seeks to reassure on US-Colombia agreement
Clinton Puts Spotlight On Women’s Issues
Releasing Lockerbie bomber is wrong: Clinton
Clinton: Insurgents seek to intimidate Afghans
Clinton Says Defense Deal Would Not Create U.S. Bases in Colombia
I could go on, but that might be enough to get my message across when compared to these:
Obama talks to Bill Clinton about NKorean mission
Clinton (Bill, That Is) Meets Obama on N. Korea
I bring these up not to insert this blog into the completely inappropriate discussion of competition in this marriage. Personally, I hope they are making mad, hot, passionate love in Bermuda as I plug on pushing Hillary’s agenda and giving her the publicity she deserves. I post these to provide evidence, and the way we use language never lies. that Hillary has become the unmarked Clinton.
If you were to go back several years and see the name Clinton in a headline, assuredly it would be Bill the header referred to. Even as recently as last year, they were differentiated by her first name. He was Clinton, and she was Hillary. She does remain a woman whose identity is recognized by her first name alone. If you say Hillary – she IS THE Hillary.
But recently, very recently, in the past few weeks, the unmarked name means Hillary. Bill is the marked Clinton now. This is a very informative phenomenon. It betrays a recognition of her power even while the media might play into the marginalization meme. A marginalized, shrouded, weakened figure does not rise to the level of unmarked.
Hillary is now the default Clinton. When references are to Bill, his first name is used – that is marking.
Language never lies. Hillary is doing what we all, at this time last year, chanted, blogged, tweeted, and prayed: Rise, Hillary, Rise! She’s doing it. Hillary is rising. And Forbes be damned!
Would woot be appropriate? I think I’ll do it regardless. W0000ttt!
I never noticed this but this is so on point. Great post.
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Thanks, Hunny Bunny!
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Amazing, and, as a former English major, I have to say “right on!”.
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Okay, I think I get what you’re saying, although I am the least “left-brain” person in this whole wide world, so the whole “marked vs unmarked” thing goes past me because I am not a linear thinker. But I do see what you’re getting at: “Clinton” now refers to Hillary primarily and Bill secondarily (I think … )
Nice catch, Still.
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Yes, basically, but more importantly, no matter how they try to manipulate the language about her, this kind of stuff is organic and just slips out.
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The forbes list was based on three things and one of them was supporters/fans of each woman. So forbes thinks pelosi has more support then hillary. Hillary had 18 million votes and right now the highest approval rate of anyone in the administration. This list is like oprah’s who put donna brazille as #1 woman. It makes no sense.
18 million votes more than the president.
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WAY TO GO Still4Hill- great analysis! Props to you!
I never really noticed this but you are right, despite attempts by the media to try to create faux competition between Bill and Hillary, without even realizing it they admit that Hillary is not/cannot be in the shadows for reasons that are obvious- SHE is SOS, SHE is pushing her agenda, SHE had a major say in whether or not Bill went to N. Korea, SHE is in charge of the State Dept’s foreign policy and SHE has a very big seat at Obama’s table. Period.
Excellent analysis.
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You know, it’s funny. When I went back to the “love Hillary” feed after picking up the headers, I found the earlier headers from when they had just left. All of those were “Bill and Hillary” and “The Clinton Tag Team” and very balanced – but clearly her sending him. After that “Clinton” came to mean Hillary – definitively.
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It’s interesting because sometimes they just say Hillary but more and more she is becoming just “Clinton” in a lot of headlines- very subtle but very important. I never noticed it.
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[…] Acknowledgment that she is now the “unmarked” default Clinton; 2. Acknowledgment that she indeed DOES have a signature issue (the report in Newsweek […]
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