“I Keep Forgetting You’re Still Alive”: Unmasking Impoliteness in the Xsphere

Abstract

Pragmatic competence entails awareness-raising of impoliteness. This paper delves into the pragmatics of impoliteness in online communication, focusing on X (Twitter) interactions, with a particular emphasis on 126 replies to Elon Musk's controversial tweet. Utilizing Culpeper's (2011) model of impoliteness formulae and implicational impoliteness, the study analyzes responses to this tweet, exploring the multifaceted dimensions of impoliteness. The research also investigates the moral order expectations expressed by the repliers, shedding light on the factors influencing their reactions and responses. By employing qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis, the study reveals the nuanced forms of impoliteness and the underlying moral order themes inherent in these online exchanges. Responsible wealth behavior, appropriate and non-offensive language, respect and decency, refraining from political narratives, engaging in social responsibility, and showingtransparency, accountability, and ethics were the identified moral order expectations. The findings underscore the relevance of examining impoliteness in the digital age, where public figures’ tweets can have far-reaching consequences and provoke diverse reactions from the online community. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of impoliteness in online discourse and its implications for social media interactions by language learners, which are currently lacking in language classrooms.