This paper compares the use of demonstrative pronouns in socially acceptable and unacceptable online comments. The corpus analysis showed that the differences in the use of demonstrative pronouns gradually increase relative to the severity of the unacceptable comments (i.e. from acceptable to offensive and violent comments). Socially unacceptable comments (especially those containing elements of violence) are characterised by a high share of emotive and recognitional demonstrative pronouns, and a low share of discoursedeictic demonstrative pronouns. This suggests a high emotional charge of socially unacceptable comments and the tendency of the authors of such discourse to create interaction between commentators. It also points to a lower intertextual complexity of socially unacceptable comments in comparison to socially acceptable ones.
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