What is it about?
This article investigates the under-explored area of discursive tactics used in threatening communications to manipulate moral values and justify violence. By analyzing texts from jihadist and far-right extremists through a discursive pragmatic lens, it reveals how these groups construct a 'discourse of justification' to rationalize their actions. The study employs the Appraisal framework and the 'moral disaffiliation' strategy to uncover verbal practices that foster ideological positioning and disalignment with societal values.
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Why is it important?
Understanding the discursive methods terrorists use to justify violence is crucial in the current global landscape, where extremist ideologies are increasingly pervasive. This research provides insights into the linguistic strategies that underpin terrorist communication, which can aid in threat analysis, profiling, and counter-terrorism efforts. By highlighting threateners’ involvement in regulatory discursive functions – manipulation, deontic-retaliation, and boulomaic effect – and practices of ideologically positioning functions – discrediting, blaming, denying and (de)legitimating. the study offers valuable tools for forensic analysts and law enforcement to better understand and combat violent extremism.
Perspectives
The revelations about how extremists construct their narratives and discourses of justification and position their victims underscore the power of language in shaping perceptions and actions. By examining these discursive tactics, I hope to contribute to a better understanding of the motivations of and markers of determination on violence. I also hope to contribute to more effective strategies in preventing and countering terrorism, ultimately fostering a safer and more informed society. This study is a step toward threatener-profiling and decoding the linguistic signatures of extremism, which can lead to better predictive and preventative measures against such threats.
Dr Awni Etaywe
Charles Darwin University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Discursive pragmatics of justification in terrorist threat texts: Victim-blaming, denying, discrediting, legitimating, manipulating, and retaliation, Discourse & Society, May 2024, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/09579265241251480.
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