Joyce Fegan: We must all hold ourselves to account for the words we use

From Brian Friel to Sexual Violence Centre Cork: Quiet, wise voices keep reminding us we need to reflect on the way we frame other people — and the way we are framed by them

It's illuminating to contrast the language people use to describe Johnny Depp and Amber Heard (above) — and Sexual Violence Centre Cork this week offered wise counsel about it. Picture: Elizabeth Frantz/AP

In the world of politics, they have a very important tool called ‘messaging’. Some people refer to it as ‘framing’. Picture a frame and how it defines a photo or a painting. It keeps your eyes within very defined lines. In issues of public debate, there are people who are paid lots of money to come up with linguistic frames, key phrases, and points of argument that are then released out into the media. These well-thought-out and deeply considered phrases will ‘frame’ the narrative of the public debate on any given issue.

This week, one big issue has been that of our new National Maternity Hospital. Whether you’ve a full understanding of the legal or land ownership nature of the hospital or not, you’ve surely heard a few of the same phrases on repeat this week.