The use of insults to challenge political authority: A critical discourse analysis

Abstract

Many scholars have argued that insults are meant to cause mental pain, embarrassment, and disgrace; they violate the principle of politeness; and they are face-threatening acts (Agyekum, 2004; Leech, 1983; Brown & Levinson, 1987). Therefore, they may be considered in many societies as socially unacceptable. In this study, however, I argue that the use of insults in Ghanaian political discourse is a means by which ordinary citizens challenge the existing political authority (herein refer to current elected politicians or those in political office). To achieve this end, I adopt two of Fairclough’s (1989) three-dimensional approach to the study of discourse: discourse-as-text and discourse-as-social-practice. Drawing on these two layers of analysis, I link text to context, and employ the sociopolitical and cultural context to link the entire discourse to the society in general. By studying the sociopolitical and cultural context, the analysis reveals media empowerment of the powerless in society to make their voices heard in political discussions to the extent of insulting and challenging the existing political authority