This book investigates the linguistic mechanisms through which racism, antisemitism, and ethnicism are constructed, reproduced, and maintained in contemporary public discourse. Martin Reisigl and Ruth Wodak, both established scholars in the field of Critical Discourse Analysis, utilize a multidisciplinary framework to examine how language functions as a tool for social exclusion. By analyzing a diverse array of primary sources, the authors argue that discriminatory ideologies are not merely historical artifacts but are actively sustained through specific rhetorical strategies in modern communication.

Experts in linguistics and sociology recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of language and prejudice. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous resource for students and researchers engaged in critical discourse analysis.