A LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROMANIAN CONSTITUTION AS ACT OF COMMUNICATION: WOODEN LANGUAGE AND IDEOLOGY
A LINGUISTIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE ROMANIAN CONSTITUTION AS ACT OF COMMUNICATION: WOODEN LANGUAGE AND IDEOLOGY

Summary/Abstract: This paper explores the evolution of Romanian constitutional texts from a discourse and communication analysis perspective, focusing on all successive constitutions as reflections of changing political regimes and constructions of national identity. The study conceptualizes the constitution not only as a legal document, but also as a communicative act that mirrors the values, ideologies and power structures of a given historical context. Particular attention is paid to the communist period, in which constitutional language became a vehicle for ideological dissemination. The analysis highlights the prevalence of “wooden language”, characterized by linguistic formulas, ideological clichés and the cultivation of linguistic ambiguity, serving to legitimize the authority of the political regime and to construct a controlled representation of social reality. By contrast, the post-1989 constitutional discourse reflects a shift towards democratic communication, marked by increased transparency, pluralism and alignment with European legal and political standards. Through a comparative approach, the paper demonstrates how constitutional language evolves from an instrument of ideological control to a framework of democratic expression, while continuously contributing to the symbolic construction of Romanian national identity. Human action itself, as evoked in the Constitution, possesses a strong symbolic dimension, with reference to loyalty to the Constitution and the State (oaths of allegiance), the sacralization of the political sphere through symbols (flag, anthem, historical battles), as well as the mythical construction of the political community (nation, working people, Romanian people). The Constitution is thus not only a legal norm, but also a text loaded with symbols and values that shape the collective imaginary of the Romanian people.

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