← Back to Concept Index
politics-of-naming
The idea that the names used for places and peoples under colonial rule carry political and cultural significance.
1 chapter across 1 book
How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States (2019)Daniel Immerwahr
A Note on Language
This chapter explains the author's deliberate choices in language to reflect the United States as an imperial entity that includes overseas territories, rather than just the contiguous mainland. It discusses the political significance of naming conventions for places and peoples affected by colonialism, highlighting the complexity and sensitivity involved in these decisions. The author adopts local and politically conscious spellings and terms to acknowledge indigenous and territorial identities while maintaining clarity about the imperial structure.