Linguistic aspects of the debate on euthanasia and assisted suicide

Abstract

For several years now, many countries have had to deal with an impassioned debate over the profound and complex ethical implications of euthanasia and assisted suicide. This momentous debate has become a veritable battlefield of words, where language takes centre stage and plays a paramount role in framing the discussion. It is within linguistics that we uncover the key aspects shaping the ethical arguments surrounding these highly controversial practices. At the heart of this debate lies the question of how the language employed by proponents and opponents can either promote or obscure the true nature of euthanasia and assisted suicide. The revelatory and shaping function of words is especially evident in this contentious discourse, where the choice of terminology can dramatically influence public sentiment and individual ethical stances. [extract]