Title
Unpacking the Portmanteau: Megxit’s Implicit Racist Ideology
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-18-2023
Publication Title
Western Journal of Communication
Keywords
Ideology, implicit racism, megxit, portmanteau, rhetorical criticism
ISSN
1745-1027
Volume
00
Issue/No.
00
First Page
1
Last Page
16
Abstract
In this essay, we demonstrate the portmanteau’s value as an analytical tool for rhetorical study. We use the portmanteau Megxit as a case study to illustrate how the form of the portmanteau shapes how ideological arguments are presented and received. While portmanteaus are common, particularly in informal speech, we suggest that they can force conceptual associations between source terms that may not other-wise exist. Most importantly, portmanteaus present conceptual associations in a playful and innocuous way, making the portmanteau an ideal form to disguise hateful speech and transmit ideology in a media-friendly package. To demonstrate the ideological work of the portmanteau, we analyze examples of “Megxit” that implicitly evoke race. In doing so, we argue that popular neologisms are a key way that race is materialized in online discourse.
NSUWorks Citation
Vanguri, S. M., & Werner, M. M. (2023). Unpacking the Portmanteau: Megxit’s Implicit Racist Ideology. Western Journal of Communication, 00 (00), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/10570314.2023.2234333
DOI
10.1080/10570314.2023.2234333
Comments
© 2023 Western States Communication Association
Funding: The work was supported by the Fisher Center for Gender and Justice [Faculty Research Fellowship 2021]