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On what constitutes an insult

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2019

Abstract

Swearing and insulting are acts of hostility, attack on face of other. What constitutes the attack on face of ther is culturally specific, since it is instantiated by accusation of taboo infringement and taboo is culturally specific phenomenon.

Still, there are some universals to be observed both in logic of behaviour and in language system. Why is there no generic insult of "murderer"? Why is the insult "pisser" extremely unusual? The presentation introduces listeners to some findings from my dissertation thesis.