Cyberbullying Through Intellect - Related Insults

Abstract

Unrestricted utilisation of digital devices and online platforms promulgates cyberbullying, which has been typically identified with the presence of potentially profane or offensive words that can cause aggravation to others. Previous studies have clarified that certain challenges arise in detecting abusive language in social media, especially on Twitter. The apparent reason for such encounters is typically triggered by the informal language used in various tweets. This study discusses the issues of abusive language that are used in Malaysian's online communication by highlighting the linguistic features of aggressive insulting words used by social media users in nit-picking an individual's intelligence. Data collection and analysis are conducted in two stages. Firstly, a self-constructed questionnaire is conducted to elicit imperative keywords or phrases used in assisting subsequent analysis of the content-based approach. Secondly, Twitter data, which have been streamed using the Twitter API and R statistical software, are explored. Thematic analysis is also used in the second phase to analyse the keywords that are subjected to qualitative explanations. Initial results indicate 'bodoh' as the most common online insult used to degrade an individual's intelligence. Twitter users also make use of more abusive words (insults) in Malay than in English for degrading purposes through a variety of intelligence-related insults such as 'bebal', 'sengal', 'gila', 'bodoh', 'bangang', 'bengap', 'semak' and 'bongok'. Likewise, linguistics realisations such as spelling alteration, word repetition, laughing remarks, punctuations, animal imagery, dialect interference, code-mixing, and Malaysian English markers are observed through the features of those highlighted insults.

Analysis of The "Get Smart Plus 4" Textbook from The Eil Perspectives

“…It is believed that "Google" is now the main source of information, and just in case, if learners are to use Google to look it up, they will find a word that is culturally inappropriate in Malaysia. So'od et al (2020) assert that 'bodoh' is "considered a taboo term among Malaysians (specifically the Malays), given that it can challenge someone's sensitivity if the word is used on them" (p. 284). This is just an example of how a word can lead to multiple interpretations depending on the context of use, which, if not handled with care by the teacher, would lead to misunderstanding.…”