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Article published In: Critical Linguistic Perspectives on Coping with Traumatic Pasts: Case studies
Edited by Christine Anthonissen and Jan Blommaert †
[Journal of Language and Politics 5:1] 2006
► pp. 15–35

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The debate on truth and reconciliation

A survey of literature on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission

 | Ghent University
Published online: 14 April 2006
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/jlp.5.1.03ver
This article gives an overview of a large part of contemporary TRC literature. Hundreds of publications have appeared on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. With a view to proper academic reflection it would be useful to classify this literature. Various classificatory criteria could be used. In this text a topical perspective is taken, so the TRC literature is subdivided on the basis of the thematic focus of the author. Perspectives on the SA Truth Commission have many different thematic interests, such as legal, religious, political, psychological, anthropological and linguistic. This paper tries to bring some cohesion and meaningful organization to this multitude of books, articles and dissertations. Within each thematic category representative examples are pointed out. Finally, reference is made to some lacunae and overlaps which are evident from looking at the body of TRC literature. As a result, this article can be seen as an investigation into the characterizing features of the debate on the TRC.
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Cited by (3)

Cited by three other publications

Becker, Heike
2011. Beyond Trauma: New Perspectives on the Politics of Memory in East and Southern Africa. African Studies 70:2 ► pp. 321 ff. DOI logo
Anthonissen, Christine
2008. On Interpreting the Interpreter – Experiences of Language Practitioners Mediating for the TRC. Journal of Multicultural Discourses 3:3 ► pp. 165 ff. DOI logo
Verdoolaege, Annelies
2008. The South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Multicultural Discourse. Journal of Multicultural Discourses 3:3 ► pp. 157 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 13 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

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