Journal of Pragmatics Research
Vol. 8 No. 2 (2026): Journal of Pragmatics Research

The The Pragmatics of Provocation: A Forensic Linguistic Study of Religious Hate Speech in Contemporary Islamic Digital Discourse

Mu' aliyah Hi Asnawi (Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Muhammadiyah University of Makassar, Makassar 90221, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 Jun 2026

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the forms, pragmatic functions, and provocative strategies of religion-based hate speech in contemporary digital Islamic discourse through a forensic linguistic approach. The study employed a qualitative method with a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) research design. The data consisted of 30 units of digital utterances collected from social media posts, online comments, and discussion forums containing indications of religion-based hate speech. Data were selected through purposive sampling based on the presence of negative labeling, collective accusations, calls for exclusion, delegitimization, and identity polarization. The analysis focused on speech acts, implicatures, presuppositions, politeness violations, perlocutionary effects, and rhetorical strategies of provocation. The findings reveal that online comments constituted the most dominant data source, accounting for 14 cases (46.67%). Representative speech acts were the most frequently identified category, comprising 11 cases (36.67%), indicating that provocation was predominantly constructed through claims, accusations, and negative evaluations directed at targeted groups. Among the pragmatic features, perlocutionary effects were the most prevalent (30.00%), while delegitimization emerged as the most common rhetorical strategy (23.33%). The study demonstrates that religious hate speech is not always expressed through overtly offensive or abusive language; rather, it often operates through implicit meanings, the construction of prejudice, and appeals for social exclusion.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

jopr

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Social Sciences

Description

Journal of Pragmatics Research, (JoPR), E-ISSN: 2656-8020, is published by State Insitute of Islamic Studies Salatiga, Indonesia. It is an International forum published every April and October and aimed at developing all aspects of scholarly theories and research on pragmatics, Pragma-linguistics, ...