Speaking Back

The free speech versus hate speech debate

Katharine Gelber | University of New South Wales

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027226914 (Eur) | EUR 99.00

ISBN 9781588111883 (USA) | USD 149.00

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027297709 | EUR 99.00 | USD 149.00

This book proposes an original policy framework for addressing hate speech. Gelber argues that a policy designed to provide support to affected groups and communities to enable them to speak back when hate speech occurs, is a more useful way of addressing the harms of hate speech than punitive measures. She suggests that “speaking back” allows the affected groups to contradict the messages contained in the words of the hate speakers, and to counteract the silencing, disempowering and marginalising effects of hate speech. Gelber’s argument uniquely synthesises the ideas of defending the importance of participating in speech, recognising the harms of hate speech and acknowledging that targeted groups may require assistance to respond.

[Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture, 1] 2002. xiv, 177 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/dapsac.1

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements | p. xi

Abbreviations | p. xii

Abstract | p. xiii

Introduction | pp. 1–11

1. The problem: An example of racial anti-vilification laws in practice, 1989-1998 | pp. 13–27

2. Expanding speech liberties: A capabilities approach | pp. 29–47

3. Speech as conduct | pp. 49–68

4. Hate speech as harmful conduct: The phenomenology of hate-speech-acts | pp. 69–91

5. Australia, the UK and the USA compared | pp. 93–115

6. A policy of ‘speaking back’ | pp. 117–134

Conclusion | pp. 135–137

Notes | pp. 139–153

Appendix | pp. 167–173

Index | pp. 175–176

“[...] a comprehensive, thoroughly examined and well documented study on a topic that straddles several disciplines, including discourse analysis, pragmatics, communication theory, sociology, politics and law.”

Svetlana Kurtes, Cambridge University, on Linguist List 14.1022

“This book makes an important contribution to the field of discourse studies, providing a consolidated hate speech policy whereby the goals of both securing free speech and ameliorating the negative effects of hate speech are achieved simultaneously.”

Mousa A. Btoosh, University of Texas, Arlington, in Language Vol. 79.4 (2003)

“Gelber's writing is clear and not technical. Her discussion of whether borderline cases can be taken as hate speech is fascinating and easy to follow.”

William Pencak, The Pennsylvania State University, in Interdisciplinary Journal for Germanic Linguistics and Semiotic Analysis, Vol. 8:2 (2003)

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This list is based on CrossRef data as of 13 october 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

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