From Impoliteness to Aggression: Examining Cyberbullying Patterns on Sina Weibo Using the “Discourse-Cognition-Society” Model
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54097/hpkgv205Keywords:
Cyberbullying, “Discourse-Cognition-Society” Model, Impoliteness Strategies, Social Media, Societal NormsAbstract
This study applies Culpeper’s Impoliteness Strategy and van Dijk’s “Discourse-Cognition-Society” Model to analyze 664 comments from nine cyberbullying incidents on Sina Weibo, examining these within their social contexts. Ten sub-strategies were identified, belonging to two main categories: bald-on record and off-record impoliteness strategies, finding a dominant use of bald-on record strategies. Our analysis underscores that with the use of impoliteness strategies, cyberbullying language mirrors the cognition and ideologies of speakers, such as traditional attitudes towards “good students” and the prejudice against non-mainstream appearances, reflecting the trends in public opinion, influencing societal cognition and dynamics. Extending van Dijk’s framework, our study offers new insights into the complex interplay between online communication, societal realities, and cognitive processes. Furthermore, this study proposes recommendations for managing online communication, conducive to fostering a sound online communication environment.
Downloads
References
[1] Olweus, Dan. Cyberbullying: An Overrated Phenomenon? European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 2012, 9(5): 520–538.
[2] Leech, G. N. Principles of Pragmatics. London: Longman, 1983.
[3] Van Dijk, Teun A. Critical Discourse Studies: A Sociocognitive Approach. Methods of Critical Discourse Analysis, 2009, 2(1): 62–86.
[4] Kofoed, J., Staksrud, E. ‘We Always Torment Different People, so by Definition, We Are No Bullies': The Problem of Definitions in Cyberbullying Research. New Media & Society, 2019, 21(4): 1006–1020.
[5] Tokunaga, Robert S. Following You Home from School: A Critical Review and Synthesis of Research on Cyberbullying Victimization. Computers in Human Behavior, 2010, 26(3): 277–287.
[6] Giumetti, G. W., Kowalski, R. M. Cyberbullying via Social Media and Well-Being. Current Opinion in Psychology, 2022, 45: 101314.
[7] O’sullivan, Patrick B., Flanagin, Andrew J. Reconceptualizing "Flaming" and Other Problematic Messages. New Media & Society, 2003, 5: 69–94.
[8] Castaño-Pulgarín, S. A., Suárez-Betancur, N., Vega, L. M. T., López, H. M. H. Internet, Social Media and Online Hate Speech: Systematic Review. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 2021, 58: 101608.
[9] Hua, T. K., Mat So’od, S. M., Abdul Hamid, B. Communicating Insults in Cyberbullying. SEARCH Journal of Media and Communication Research, 2019, 11(3): 91–109.
[10] Veiga Simão, Ana Margarida Vieira da, et al. Cyberbullying: Shaping the Use of Verbal Aggression through Normative Moral Beliefs and Self-Efficacy. New Media & Society, 2018, 20(12): 4787–4806.
[11] Culpeper, J. Impoliteness: Using Language to Cause Offence (Vol. 28). Cambridge University Press, 2011.
[12] Culpeper, J. Impoliteness Strategies. Interdisciplinary Studies in Pragmatics, Culture and Society, 2016, 421–445.
[13] Leech, G. N. The Pragmatics of Politeness. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014.
[14] Bousfield, D. Impoliteness in Interaction. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 2008.
[15] Dynel, M. The Landscape of Impoliteness Research. Journal of Politeness Research, 2015, 11(2): 329–354.
[16] Brown, P., Levinson, S. C. Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987.
[17] Culpeper, J., Bousfield, D., Wichmann, A. Impoliteness Revisited: With Special Reference to Dynamic and Prosodic Aspects. Journal of Pragmatics, 2003, 35(10–11): 1545–1579.
[18] Feng, W., Ren, W. Impoliteness in Negative Online Consumer Reviews: A Cross-Language and Cross-Sector Comparison. Intercultural Pragmatics, 2020, 17(1): 1–25.
[19] Zhong, Wenjun. Linguistic Impoliteness Strategies in Sina Weibo Comments. International Journal of Linguistics and Communication, 2018, 6(2): 35–46.
[20] Wodak, Ruth, Culpeper, Jonathan, Semino, Elena. Shameless Normalisation of Impoliteness: Berlusconi’s and Trump’s Press Conferences. Discourse & Society, 2021, 32(3): 369–393.
[21] Goffman, E. Interaction Ritual. Harmonsworth: Penguin Books, 1967.
[22] Smith, Peter K., et al. Cyberbullying: Its Nature and Impact in Secondary School Pupils. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2008, 49(4): 376–385.
[23] Patchin, Justin W., Hinduja, Sameer. Cyberbullying and Self-Esteem. Journal of School Health, 2010, 80(12): 614-621.
[24] Kakavá, C. Discourse and Conflict. In The Handbook of Discourse Analysis, ed. by Deborah Schiffrin, Deborah Tannen, Heidi E. Hamilton, 650–670. London: Blackwell, 2003 [2001].
[25] Hwang, K. Face and Favor: The Chinese Power Game. American Journal of Sociology, 1987, 92(4): 944-974.
[26] Brenneis, D., Lein, L. ‘You Fruithead’: A Sociolinguistic Approach to Children's Dispute Settlement. In Child Discourse, ed. by Susan Ervin-Tripp and Claudia Mitchell-Kernan, 49–65. London and New York: Academ
[27] Xiao, Han, Li, Lei. A Bibliometric Analysis of Critical Discourse Analysis and Its Implications. Discourse & Society, 2021, 32(4): 482–502.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 International Journal of Education and Humanities
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.