# Tracing Antisemitic Language Through Diachronic Embedding Projections: France 1789-1914

## TL;DR

This study uses diachronic word embeddings to analyze the evolution of antisemitic language in France from 1789 to 1914, revealing increasing bias especially around the Dreyfus affair.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel diachronic embedding approach to trace antisemitic discourse evolution over a historical period.

## Key findings

- Antisemitic bias increased over time, peaking around the Dreyfus affair.
- Distinct biases towards Judaism compared to other religions were identified.
- Semantic shifts in antisemitic language reflect broader societal changes.

## Abstract

We investigate some aspects of the history of antisemitism in France, one of the cradles of modern antisemitism, using diachronic word embeddings. We constructed a large corpus of French books and periodicals issues that contain a keyword related to Jews and performed a diachronic word embedding over the 1789-1914 period. We studied the changes over time in the semantic spaces of 4 target words and performed embedding projections over 6 streams of antisemitic discourse. This allowed us to track the evolution of antisemitic bias in the religious, economic, socio-politic, racial, ethic and conspiratorial domains. Projections show a trend of growing antisemitism, especially in the years starting in the mid-80s and culminating in the Dreyfus affair. Our analysis also allows us to highlight the peculiar adverse bias towards Judaism in the broader context of other religions.