Hatred Expressives Institutionalized in Colombian Political Discourse. An Analysis of ‘Guerrilero’, ‘Castrochavista’, ‘Vándalo’ and ‘Gente de Bien’

Abstract

This article conducts an analysis of the ways in which the use of slurs such as "Guerrillo", "Vándalo" and "Castrochavista", as well as the dogwhistles "Gente de bien", negatively transform social reality. The intentional use of these expressions leads to the institutionalization of practices of rejection, discrimination and hatred that mobilize the collectivity in decision making and the realization of political actions that end up attacking human dignity and are a direct affront to democracy. The institutionalization of these discursive practices gives rise to a negative glotopolitics, which makes it possible to show the intentionality of the speakers and the pragmatic-linguistic commitments assumed by the community.