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  • Book
  • Open Access
  • © 2017

Online Hate Speech in the European Union

A Discourse-Analytic Perspective

  • Offers unique insights on online hate speech by combining discourse analytic and corpus linguistics methods
  • Presents the findings from the EU co-funded C.O.N.T.A.C.T. research project, targeting hate speech and hate crime across a number of EU member states
  • Focuses on online reactions to news items and reveals the folk perception of online hate speech
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Linguistics (SBIL)

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-viii
  2. Introduction and Background

    • Stavros Assimakopoulos, Fabienne H. Baider, Sharon Millar
    Pages 1-16Open Access
  3. The C.O.N.T.A.C.T. Methodological Approach

    • Stavros Assimakopoulos, Fabienne H. Baider, Sharon Millar
    Pages 17-23Open Access
  4. Analysis of Online Comments to News Reports

    • Stavros Assimakopoulos, Fabienne H. Baider, Sharon Millar
    Pages 25-52Open Access
  5. Young People’s Perception of Hate Speech

    • Stavros Assimakopoulos, Fabienne H. Baider, Sharon Millar
    Pages 53-85Open Access
  6. Concluding Remarks

    • Stavros Assimakopoulos, Fabienne H. Baider, Sharon Millar
    Pages 87-90Open Access

About this book

This open access book reports on research carried out as part of the European Union co-funded C.O.N.T.A.C.T. project which targeted hate speech and hate crime across a number of EU member states. It showcases the bearing that discourse analytic research can have on our understanding of this phenomenon that is a growing global cause for concern.


Although ‘hate speech’ is often incorporated in legal and policy documents, there is no universally accepted definition, which in itself warrants research into how hatred is both expressed and perceived. The research project synthesises discourse analytic and corpus linguistics techniques, and presents its key findings here. The focus is especially on online comments posted in reaction to news items that could trigger discrimination, as well as on the folk perception of online hate speech as revealed through semi-structured interviews with young individuals across the various partner countries.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta

    Stavros Assimakopoulos

  • Department of French and European Studies, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Fabienne H. Baider

  • Department of Language and Communication, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    Sharon Millar

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

Softcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access