Expert explains

How violence can start with a compliment

On the occasion of the "16 Days against Violence against Women" campaign, Parliament will be examined. Linguist Karoline Irschara explains how violence begins in language.(Bild: Gerhard Bartel, Christof Birbaumer, Krone KREATIV)

The "16 days against violence against women" campaign runs until December 10. Violence can take many forms - such as language. The "Krone" spoke to linguist Karoline Irschara from the University of Innsbruck. About whether and where violence is hidden in language.

"Krone": Dr. Irschara, what is your focus on the topic of violence against women?
Karoline Irschara: The first thing that comes to mind are the headlines of newspaper articles: "Relationship crime" or "Jealousy drama", when it's actually about the murder of women. The media disguises this with euphemisms. This could make you think that the woman was perhaps somehow to blame herself. Because thought patterns are spread through linguistic images.