Verbal violence – a first approximation based on Latin American migrants’ experiences in German institutions

Authors

  • Silke Jansen Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • Lucía Romero Gibu Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18716/ojs/the_mouth.3081

Abstract

This paper seeks to focus attention on hidden forms of violence against migrants that may affect their wellbeing and health but are particularly difficult to detect, document and study – given that they are not carried out by physical force but through language, and usually behind the walls of public institutions. As part of an interdisciplinary project, this contribution aims at (a) documenting migrants’ experiences of verbal interactions with representatives of German institutions, (b) understanding how violence emerges from overt and covert linguistic strategies, (c) determining typical settings of verbal violence and its prevalence within different kinds of institutions and migrant groups, (d) studying the biological responses of people facing acts of verbal violence, and (e) identifying possible health risks related to a constant exposure to these kinds of stressful situations. The ultimate goal is to help enhance the quality of communication in institutions by developing recommendations that are empirically grounded and practicable ac- cording to intercultural competence criteria.

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Published

2025-01-07