This article examines functional and structuralsemantic features of the category of invectiveness. Structuralsemantic analysis enabled to identify semantics (of insult) and structural (invective) components of invectiveness. It is argued that the structuralsemantic and functional potential of invective is manifested through the linguistic environment, i. e. context. It is especially characteristic of implicit invective which is carried out taking into account relevant presuppositions, linguistic context and the situation of communication. The analysis of the invective 50 expressions enabled to conclude that, firstly, the semantics of offensiveness is expressed in the use of tropes, lexical and syntactic phenomena. Secondly, the means of expression are realized directly, through their fixed meanings, or indirectly – through the context and conditions of communication. Finally, Internet comments were also found to display axiological, accusatory, nominative, cathartic and socializing functions, since the texts express not only invective or blaming meanings but also reflect the author's subjective attitude to the problem, including reactions, and substantiate the reasons for accusation. These intentions increase the impact potential of the invective text.
Alexey E. Zadokhin (2024) studied this question.