VIOLENCE IN THE TEXTS OF NATIONAL ANTHEMS

Abstract

Anthems of countries around the world are based on messages that are dedicated to construct various forms of self-identification of either the entity of citizens, or the dominant people. Nevertheless, a significant part of the themes covered in anthems directly concern the narrative of war, struggle, liberation and rebellion against historical or potential oppressors. As one of the indisputable state symbols recognized by constitutions, anthems contribute to the recognition of at least symbolic points of internal identification of the sovereignty holders. Emphasizing the above-mentioned part of the narrative of the official state songs’ texts might serve to provide a deeper insight into the symbolic attitude of states towards issues of violence, which necessarily includes a call to eliminate various enemies and to defend the country at all costs, with frequent references to historical examples of heroic struggle against invaders. Texts of national anthems of numerous countries was analyzed in the paper, with the aim of examining what kind of language formulations appear in the context of the fighting aspirations of the people, citizens, or countries as a whole, usually dressed in patterns of a just and defensive warfare. The paper examines to what extent the reference to the national anthem as a state symbol represents explicit matter, but also in which way struggle, war, weapons, resistance, opposition to invaders and calls for sacrifice for the purpose of defending national independence appear in anthem texts.