La novlangue managériale, un virus socio-psycho-linguistique?
Managerial Newspeak, a Socio-Psycho-Linguistic Virus?

Summary/Abstract: This paper considers the propagation of “managerial newspeak”, that is a verbal system of expression of thoughts stemming from neoliberal managerial discourse. It stresses the ambivalence of the subjective relationship to this discourse and presents the hypothesis that, just as a virus can infect a cell by relying on its structure, the internalization of managerial discourse relies on existing psychic, social and linguistic structures, so that it constitutes a “newspeak” that can weaken individuals. Then, this paper turns to the delicate issue of naming a phenomenon and questions the “newspeak” and “virus” metaphors. It adopts a reflexive approach, that is both clinical and critical, taking into account intersubjectivity as a means to understanding; it is also dialogical, considering the interaction of discourses and their inscription in socio-historical contexts.

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