'I love James Blunt as much as I love herpes' – 'I love that you're not ashamed to admit you have both': Attempted insults and responses on Twitter. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McVittie, Chris; Sambaraju, Rahul; Bain, Freya
• Is Part Of: Language & communication. Volume 76(2021)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 34
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Breaching experiment -- Conversation analysis -- Doing literal -- Insult talk -- Twitter; Communication -- Periodicals; Linguistics -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; Linguistics -- Periodicals; Communication -- Périodiques; Linguistique -- Périodiques; Communication; Linguistics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.langcom.2020.10.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0271-5309

Abstract

Abstract: To date, little research has examined participants' understandings of insults. We examine (potentially) derogatory talk and its consequences in interactions on Twitter, considering instances on the Twitter feed of one high-profile user. Discourse analysis identifies four forms of response to attempted insults: (1) ascribing category membership to first contributor, (2) taking up first contributor self-identification, (3) syntactic echoing, and (4) co-constructing criticism. These responses treat the original remark as literally accurate, and thereby 'breach' the usual expectations of talk. Thus, insulting is an outcome that must be accomplished in interaction. Otherwise, derogatory talk can become no more than failed insults. Highlights: Recipients of attempted insults have a range of discursive ways of deflecting such attempts. Twitter provides an especially suitable medium for dealing with potential insults. An effective way of responding to potential insults is to treat them as literally accurate. Insults are joint accomplishments of the initiator and the recipient and not properties of talk itself.