Analysis: Reading between the lines of carefully chosen words

By PROF JOHN JOSPEH
Published on Sunday 29 January 2012 00:00

Is the referendum question proposed by Alex Salmond – “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country” – a fair one? A leading linguist examines its syntax and choice of words:

The wording of a question like this is a delicate balance. Human beings are rational people who are not easily derailed in their opinions, but the more you load a question like this, the more of a chance there is that somebody is going to be affected by the wording.

At the start of the question, the use of the word “you” is very inclusive. It brings you, the person, into the question. Asking “do you” involves the voter being asked in a personal way. The word “agree”, meanwhile, is also interesting – most people want to agree most of the time. Having agree or disagree in a question is liable to set the tone of the question itself. Wording it “should Scotland be an independent country?” would be more objective, as well as being more economical. The words “do you agree” are not strictly necessary.

There is an ambiguity in the use of the word “should”. It can be used in different ways – “it should rain tomorrow” as opposed to “you should not be eating chocolate for breakfast”. It is possible to read the “should” in the lateral way, in the sense that it has a moral overtone. But then again, if you have a question that starts with “do you agree that”, then I don’t know whether a verb could follow other than should.

The choice of “an independent country” is interesting. The choice of the word “country” – as opposed to state or nation for example. It’s a choice that has to be made but state is the most netural choice, whereas nation would be the least neutral, because nation would imply things about belonging that the word “country”, which is what has been chosen, does not necessarily imply. As far as “independent” goes, well, I think we have to take that at face value. It is the key word in the question. In fact, if you had to do away with all the other words and make this into a one word referendum question, you could simply ask: “Independent?”.

Professor John Joseph is head of English language and linguistics at the University of Edinburgh

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Mikey von Ruden

Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 10:28 PM

To what lengths will this unionist comic go to in an effort to undermine the Scottish independence campaign? This type of story would be hit for the "The Daily News" - www.the-daily-news.co.uk

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maisiedotts

Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:46 AM

I don't understand this article to be honest! Is there a conclusion, if so what is it? I do however understand the referendum question. I don't think anyone is too stupid to NOT understand it. "Do you agree etc" offers the voter a choice of YES or NO, it is not making the choice for you. You then have to state YES (I do agree) or NO (I don't agree) what's so difficult about that? You could say "Do you agree to jump off this cliff" you would hardly be likely to be persuaded to reply YES to that question!

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Marga

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 08:34 PM

My, it seems we've got the Daily Mail, assorted politicians and "linguists" deciding on what poll question is fair and what is a leading question. With such expertise around, who needs the Electoral Commission to run this referendum?

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Tiny

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 09:42 AM

I agree. Is this answer clear enough? Do I need to change it or is this answer fai? Unbelievable, the unionists think so little of the people of Scotland that they believe, that after a more than two year debate,they will not truly understand the question. Who is the unionist strategist on this one?

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Proud Doonhamer

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 01:19 AM

let me be clear in my language... you are a poodle.

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Marga

Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 12:20 AM

"As far as “independent” goes, well, I think we have to take that at face value. " Hm. With respect, this is all very interesting, but linguists are not specialists in elections. It's already been decided to let the experts handle this issue. Why don't we just let them get on with it?

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