A Grice-ful Examination of Offensive Language: Using NLP Methods to Assess the Co-operative Principle

Katerina Korre, Federico Ruggeri, Alberto Barrón-Cedeño


Abstract
Natural Language Processing (NLP) can provide tools for analyzing specific intricate language phenomena, such as offensiveness in language. In this study, we employ methods from pragmatics, more specifically Gricean theory, as well as NLP techniques, to analyze instances of online offensive language. We present a comparative analysis between offensive and non-offensive instances with regard to the degree to which the 4 Gricean Maxims (Quality, Quantity, Manner, and Relevance) are flouted or violated. To facilitate our analysis, we employ NLP tools to filter the instances and proceed to a more thorough qualitative analysis. Our findings reveal that offensive and non-offensive speech do not differ significantly when we evaluate with metrics that correspond to the Gricean Maxims, apart from some aspects of the Maxim of Quality and the Maxim of Manner. Through this paper, we advocate for a turn towards mixed approaches to linguistic topics by also paving the way for a modernization of discourse analysis and natural language understanding that encompasses computational methods. Warning: This paper contains offensive language that might be triggering for some individuals.
Anthology ID:
2024.luhme-1.2
Volume:
Proceedings of the First LUHME Workshop
Month:
October
Year:
2024
Address:
Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Editors:
Rui Sousa-Silva, Henrique Lopes Cardoso, Maarit Koponen, Antonio Pareja Lora, Márta Seresi
Venues:
LUHME | WS
SIG:
Publisher:
CLUP, Centro de Linguística da Universidade do Porto FLUP - Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto
Note:
Pages:
12–19
Language:
URL:
https://aclanthology.org/2024.luhme-1.2/
DOI:
Bibkey:
Cite (ACL):
Katerina Korre, Federico Ruggeri, and Alberto Barrón-Cedeño. 2024. A Grice-ful Examination of Offensive Language: Using NLP Methods to Assess the Co-operative Principle. In Proceedings of the First LUHME Workshop, pages 12–19, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. CLUP, Centro de Linguística da Universidade do Porto FLUP - Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto.
Cite (Informal):
A Grice-ful Examination of Offensive Language: Using NLP Methods to Assess the Co-operative Principle (Korre et al., LUHME 2024)
Copy Citation:
PDF:
https://aclanthology.org/2024.luhme-1.2.pdf