Indirect Verbal Aggression

Abstract. The article deals with the indirect form of verbal aggression in which the cathartic function of this linguistic phenomenon is primarily implemented. The author compares indirect verbal aggression with its direct form while discussing some positive aspects of the former type for the speakers, their mental health, and social contacts. Moreover, gender and sociolinguistic aspects of the phenomenon along with the addressee and social setting typology have been established. The research employed contextual, pragma-linguistic, conversational tools of analysis, a short comprehensive written questionnaire, and an oral partially standardized interview with 200 participants from Vienna, Austria. This study has found that generally indirect verbal aggression often provides the only way to express negative emotions and thereby it is viewed as an effective means of the speaker’s social tie maintaining and mental health support. Indirect verbal aggression also performs comforting, corporate, expressive, and fear-relieving functions. More intensive cathartic effect following the expressed indirect verbal aggression is explained by the absence of its immediate addressees and their verbal or nonverbal response.