Abstract

This cross-disciplinary study investigates the function of language in changing people’s perceptions, management, and adaptation to climate change hazards, influencing their sense of urgency and action to address this global issue. The study uses examples such as the Korean language’s nuanced terminology for tornado and waterspout to demonstrate how language can substantially impact risk assessment and communication in the face of climate-related events. In South Korea, the names 토네이도 (tornado) and 용오름 (waterspout) have distinct implications. The term 토네이도 (tornado) often refers to damaging funnel clouds seen in Western countries such as the United States. On the other hand, 용오름 (waterspout) alludes to a less scary phenomenon occurring over water, frequently perceived as harmless. This linguistic gap created difficulties during a 2014 tornado incident in Ilsan when the media struggled to appropriately portray the level of risk to the public. This research aims to clarify the dominant concepts and vocabulary used in conversations about climate change concerns among scientific communities and the general public in English, Spanish, and Korean. The study examines language usage across different linguistic groupings to identify potential discrepancies that may influence public perceptions of climate change threats. Additionally, the study looks into how textual risk disclosures affect users’ perceptions of climate change concerns. The study aims to understand the function of language in creating risk perceptions and driving action by examining how information is transmitted and received by the public.

Presenters

Reazul Ahsan
Associate Professor (Lecturer), City and Metropolitan Planning, University of Utah (Asia Campus), Incheon Gwang'yeogsi [Inch'n-Kwangyokshi], South Korea

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

Technical, Political, and Social Responses

KEYWORDS

Climate Change, Risk Perception, Language Influence, Environmental Communication, Cross-Disciplinary Study

Digital Media

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