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Article In: Pragmatics: Online-First Articles

Online hate speech as “aggravated impoliteness”

Face-threatening acts and group boundary‑making on Rednote

ORCiD logo with link | Nanjing University
ORCiD logo with link | Nanjing University
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Abstract
This study examines online hate speech through impoliteness theory, conceptualizing it as aggravated impoliteness where language is used to attack, provoke, and exclude social groups through face-threatening acts. Drawing on Bousfield’s distinction between on-record and off-record impoliteness and the notion of othering, the study analyzes 403 comments from the Chinese social media platform Rednote. Using mixed-method content analysis, 519 instances of impoliteness were identified, as individual comments often contained multiple strategies. Findings show that off-record impoliteness, particularly sarcasm, followed by insinuation, mock politeness, and strategic vagueness, was more frequent than on-record forms. These findings indicate that hate speech is an extreme form of negative relational work that undermines the preconditions for equitable intergroup relations by systematically attacking social identity face, thereby constructing and reinforcing symbolic boundaries. Overall, the study identifies key characteristics of online hate speech in the Chinese context and extends impoliteness analysis from individual interaction to group-based discourse.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Literature review
    • 2.1“Self” and “other” in the digital sphere
    • 2.2The interface between impoliteness and hate speech
  • 3.Methodology
    • 3.1Data collection
    • 3.2Data analysis
  • 4.Findings
    • 4.1On-record impoliteness
      • 4.1.1Accusation
      • 4.1.2Humiliation
      • 4.1.3Exclusion
      • 4.1.4Scorn
      • 4.1.5Swearing
      • 4.1.6Incitement
    • 4.2Off-record impoliteness
      • 4.2.1Sarcasm
      • 4.2.2Insinuation
      • 4.2.3Mock politeness
      • 4.2.4Strategic vagueness
  • 5.Discussion
    • 5.1Indirectness as a dominant feature of Chinese hate speech
    • 5.2From face-threatening acts to group boundary-making
  • 6.Conclusion
  • Author queries
  • References
References (58)
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