Book contents
- Words that Wound
- Words that Wound
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Preface
- Disclaimer: A Note to Readers
- Introduction
- 1 Setting the Scene
- 2 Understanding Offence
- 3 Data and Methodological Considerations
- 4 Navigating the Landscape of Offensive Discourse
- 5 Semantic Domains of Offensive Language
- 6 Patterns of Offensive Language Usage
- 7 Less Explicitly Offensive Language
- 8 Creativity and Offence
- 9 Conclusion
- References
- Index
Introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 April 2026
Book contents
- Words that Wound
- Words that Wound
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Figures
- Tables
- Preface
- Disclaimer: A Note to Readers
- Introduction
- 1 Setting the Scene
- 2 Understanding Offence
- 3 Data and Methodological Considerations
- 4 Navigating the Landscape of Offensive Discourse
- 5 Semantic Domains of Offensive Language
- 6 Patterns of Offensive Language Usage
- 7 Less Explicitly Offensive Language
- 8 Creativity and Offence
- 9 Conclusion
- References
- Index
Summary
This introduction explores the growing presence of offensive language on social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram, where anonymity often encourages more aggressive behaviour. It discusses the difficulty in distinguishing between what is ‘merely offensive’ and what crosses into illegal or grossly offensive territory, highlighting how this is a complex issue spanning multiple disciplines. The chapter highlights the importance of linguistic insights in understanding offensive language, especially given the limitations of automatic detection systems and the inherently subjective nature of offence. It also provides an overview of the chapters that follow.
Information
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- Chapter
- Information
- Words that WoundExploring Online Offensive Language, pp. 1 - 7Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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