Abstract
The topic of this paper is the complex phenomenon of verbal abuse. The aim is to show the productivity of a pragma-rhetorical approach in addressing this issue. Indeed, integrating modern pragmatics with classical rhetoric, this approach does not isolate words from social practices and therefore is not exclusively focused on slurs (as is the case in the current debate on this topic in the field of the philosophy of language) but it concerns verbal abuse in general. I argue that this wider approach, especially thanks to its focus on the intertwining of linguistic and social components, is more adapted to shedding light on the role that words play in performing violence. Particularly, I take into account three (interrelated) controversial issues: (1). the question of whether intrinsically offensive words exist; (2). the problem concerning the existence of the so-called “neutral-counterpart” of a slurring word; (3). the reclamation or rehabilitation of a slur. Finally, I briefly focus on the case of the N-word as a paradigmatic example able to show the advantages of the pragma-rhetorical approach.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
Without entering into details, for the purposes of this paper it can be useful to bear in mind the tripartite classification of the main linguistic treatments of slurs proposed by C. Bianchi (2013, 2014): 1. the semantic treatment according to which «the derogatory content of a slur is part of its literal meaning»; 2. the pragmatic one, according to which «the derogatory content of a slur is merely conveyed in context»; 3. the deflactionary or silentist strategy (essentially represented by Anderson and Lepore (2011), according to which slurs are «only prohibited words not in virtue of any content they express or communicate, but rather because of relevant edicts surrounding their prohibition» (Bianchi 2014: 36). For a more detailed overview of this debate on slurs see: Croom (2011); Bianchi (2013, 2014); Cepollaro (2015); Panzeri (2016).
- 3.
For further details on the advantages of the conjunction between rhetoric and pragmatics see Piazza (2013).
- 4.
On this occasion I cannot dwell on these cases of reclamation in detail. Concerning the case of queer—generally considered one of the most successful cases of re-appropriation—I would refer to Brontsema (2004) and Herbert (2015), while, concerning nigger—to which I briefly will return at the end of the paper—see above all Kennedy (2002); Rahman (2012).
- 5.
On the performative (and therefore precarious) nature of reclamation see also Butler (1997).
- 6.
Something similar also occurs in the case of queer, although the rehabilitation of this slur is generally considered to be more successful (see Brontsema 2004:12).
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Piazza, F. (2019). Not Only Slurs. A Pragma-Rhetorical Approach to Verbal Abuse. In: Capone, A., Carapezza, M., Lo Piparo, F. (eds) Further Advances in Pragmatics and Philosophy: Part 2 Theories and Applications. Perspectives in Pragmatics, Philosophy & Psychology, vol 20. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-00973-1_16
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