What does emotionalising mean?
“Emotionalising” is the British-English form of a verb meaning to make or present something emotionally charged, especially by stressing feelings, personal associations, or pathos. In “an emotionalising account of the illness,” the phrase suggests that the writer is seeking an emotional response as well as conveying facts; it may simply describe vivid, moving writing, but it can also imply that emotion is being used strategically or manipulatively. The word is related to “emotion” and is closely allied to “emotive,” although “emotive” describes something capable of evoking emotion, whereas “emotionalising” emphasizes the act or process. The spelling with -ising is characteristic of British English; American usage usually has emotionalizing, with -izing. Because the term can carry a mildly critical implication, writers often use it in discussion of rhetoric, media, education, or design. Even without that implication, it remains useful for naming the deliberate shaping of feeling in language or presentation.
To make or present something so as to evoke or intensify emotion.
"The documentary was criticized for emotionalising a complex dispute."
The word can be neutral, but it often suggests that emotional appeal is being emphasized or used strategically.
Causing or intended to cause an emotional response; emotionally charged.
"The music had a strongly emotionalising effect on the audience."
This is a participial use of the verb and is especially common in discussion of language, images, music, and other forms of presentation.
Sometimes the accusation lands: emotionalising language can blur the line between feeling and framing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does emotionalising come from?
The English noun emotion comes through French émotion from Latin emotio, which was derived from emovere, “to move.” The adjective emotional and the verb emotionalise were subsequently formed in English, with emotionalise using the productive suffix -ise; emotionalising is the corresponding British-spelling participle. Related English words include emotive, as well as the cognate family represented by emotion and emotional.
Related word forms
How emotionalising is actually used
The word often implies that emotion is being used deliberately, and it can carry a mildly critical connotation of manipulation or sentimentality. It may nevertheless be neutral when describing writing, imagery, or music intended to affect an audience emotionally. The British spelling emotionalising is standard in British English, while US English normally uses emotionalizing.
Easily confused with emotionalising
Emotive describes something capable of arousing emotion, whereas emotionalising describes the act or process of doing so.
Emotional means characterized by or expressing emotion, whereas emotionalising means deliberately evoking or intensifying emotion in an audience or reader.