Emotion, speech and the politics of everyday life

Abstract

This study delves into the anthropological exploration of emotions as discourse, emphasizing the crucial role of language in constituting emotional experiences. By rejecting the notion of emotions as mere sensations, the research aligns with the perspective that emotions are judgments reflecting socially contested evaluations expressed through emotional language and daily interactions. Emotions and discourse are not separate entities but are interwoven, where emotional discourse acts as a form of social action that creates culturally determined effects. This perspective challenges the reductionist view of emotions as internal states and instead positions them within the realm of social and cultural practices. By incorporating emotions into the social body, this approach underscores the need to understand emotions as both individual experiences and collective constructs shaped by political and ecological contexts