Language and Social Justice in US Climate Movements: Barriers and Ways Forward

Climate movements increasingly conceptualize the climate crisis as an issue of social injustice, both in terms its root causes and present future effects. justice calls for participatory decision-making within movements, which, communication scholars have pointed out, necessitates inclusive accessible communicative practices. Within sociocultural linguistics, a growing body research has explored sociolinguistic justice, or marginalized groups' struggle self-determined language use. This analysis interweaves these two areas, applying theory to organizing contexts. Drawing on 67 semi-structured interviews 112 online surveys with activists from organizations across United States, finds that injustice impedes frontline community members' participation movements. Specific barriers include: (1) English-only communications; (2) combination incomprehensible jargon dry, emotionless register; (3) use Dominant American English prescriptive materials such phonebanking scripts; (4) policing discourses environmental racism; (5) form linguistic ventriloquism which adult organizers pressure youth express grief their stead. activists' insights are synthesized propose countermeasures each problems injustice. The results suggest can be useful lens understanding provide guidance educators who wish align communications inclusive, anti-racist, decolonial values justice.