Abstract
This chapter focuses on genuine linguistic impoliteness, that is to say, linguistic material that is associated with offensive effects. It discusses some of the most central concepts and features of impoliteness (meta-language, intentionality and emotions), and includes a brief overview of the rapid development of this field of research, highlighting a recent shift away from impoliteness strategies to impoliteness formulae. Some co-textual issues (e.g. how one responds to impoliteness) and contextual issues (e.g. the role of power) that are especially important to impoliteness are covered. A case study, spanning both traditional and new media, demonstrates the practicalities of analysis, concentrating on impoliteness formulae, power and context. Finally, the chapter suggests areas of future development.
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Culpeper, J., Hardaker, C. (2017). Impoliteness. In: Culpeper, J., Haugh, M., Kádár, D. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Linguistic (Im)politeness. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-37508-7_9
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