Beyond Impoliteness: How Antidemocratic Practices Can Shape Scenarios of Linguistic-Discursive Violence on X

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2236-4242.v38i2p119-139

Keywords:

Online Interactions, Text, Democracy, Society, Violence

Abstract

This study aims to examine how online participants construct scenarios of linguistic-discursive violence through impoliteness strategies on X, highlighting how these strategies – employed by users with divergent political affiliations – contribute to destabilizing public debate and weakening democratic principles. The theoretical framework draws on impoliteness studies from the first, second, and third waves, which respectively encompass linguistic, socio-discursive, and socio-interactional domains. Methodologically, we adopt a qualitative, netnographic, and critical approach, proposing five steps: pre-selecting news articles, selecting comments on platform X, mapping linguistic-discursive resources, analyzing those resources, and critically reflecting on the theme and data. Our analysis predominantly reveals the use of insincere politeness strategies, direct impoliteness, and positive impoliteness, which can lead to disharmonious relational work stemming from the discursive clash between criticism, social justice, and resistance versus disrespect, impoliteness, and violence. Reflecting on linguistic-discursive violence is essential for understanding conflict dynamics in digital environments and promoting more ethical interactional practices that uphold mutual respect and strengthen democratic principles.

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Author Biographies

  • Rodrigo Albuquerque, University of Brasília

    Doutor em Lingüística pela Universidade de Brasília, Brasil (2015). Professor Adjunto da Universidade de Brasília, Brasil.

  • Mayara Esteves Costa, University of Brasília

    Licenciada em Letras (Língua Portuguesa) pela Universidade de Brasília, Brasil (2023).

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Published

2025-08-31

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 2 (2025): Text, Society, and Democracy

Section

Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Rodrigo Albuquerque, Mayara Esteves Costa

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How to Cite

ALBUQUERQUE, Rodrigo; COSTA, Mayara Esteves. Beyond Impoliteness: How Antidemocratic Practices Can Shape Scenarios of Linguistic-Discursive Violence on X. Linha D’Água, São Paulo, v. 38, n. 2, p. 119–139, 2025. DOI: 10.11606/issn.2236-4242.v38i2p119-139. Disponível em: https://revistas.usp.br/linhadagua/article/view/234898. Acesso em: 6 feb. 2026.