The symbolic power of rudeness and the construction of discursive identities in virtual interactions

Abstract

Based on the interventions made in the comments forum that takes place on social networks, where anonymity and direct, short language predominate, a socio-discursive analysis is undertaken of the way in which hate speech is co-constructed. From the point of view of Sociopragmatics, the strategies of linguistic rudeness are analysed, rebalancing this linguistic use with gender (male and female) and with how the power structures of a community of practice are constructed in discourse. It can be observed that verbal creativity in the corpus is at the service of discrediting the speaker, with a predominance of directive and assertive acts, irony, and rhetorical questions.