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
6 - Patterns of Offensive Language Usage
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
Chapter 6 focuses on patterns of offensive language with a particular focus on specific words and multi-word units that characterise the discourse of offensive language. The chapter aims to enhance the classification of offensive words, refine models of offensive language, and deepen our understanding through keyword analysis. The findings reveal a wide range of explicit and taboo words, including racial slurs and derogatory terms, alongside emphatic markers, which intensify emotional statements. In our discussion of explicit language, we will critically examine the role of context in interpreting offensive language. We discuss the explicitly offensive language within the concept of ‘insults’, dividing them into two primary types: hard and soft. Although both types serve to denigrate, they differ in linguistic intensity and explicitness.
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- Words that WoundExploring Online Offensive Language, pp. 107 - 125Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
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