Reviewed by Stacey O’Brien, Texas Tech University

In Toward a rhetoric of insult, David Conley does not provide a theory of insult, but rather a reflective discussion of a topic that has heretofore received little scholarly attention. Arguing for an understanding of insult as a type of rhetoric, he seeks to reveal the pervasiveness of this human behavior and identify the significant impact, both unifying and divisive, that it has on human interaction.

In Ch. 1, ‘The range of insult’ (1–29), C provides a framework analyzing insults in terms of intensity, or level of hurtfulness; scenario, or surrounding context; and vehicle, or style and delivery. Insult terms and gestures are surveyed from several languages to exemplify this categorization and reveal their crosslinguistic prevalence. He discusses the style and creativity insults exhibit through tropes and figures. Insults are also shown to resist labeling as inherently abusive given their varied uses. C then highlights how the intent and context of an insult are often overlooked.

Ch. 2, ‘Traditional principles of insult’ (31–95), considers both the commonality of insult subject matter, regardless of time or genre, and the rhetoric in insults that appeals to the values and commonplaces of one’s community. C cites insults from historical figures like Cicero, Martial, and Shakespeare, each of whom carefully molded audience expectations and employed dramatic argument structures to gain public support for their insults. He also discusses the rhetorical impact of more varied insults (like Monty Python’s), the visual imagery of political cartoons and caricatures, and the verbal sparring matches common in some African American communities. Through these examples, C highlights the way insults create authority, rely heavily on an intimate familiarity with one’s audience, and belittle opponents while uniting those with common beliefs.

Ch. 3, ‘Beyond ‘traditional’ rhetoric’ (97–126), discusses the need for a new understanding of rhetoric in order to accurately interpret insult. C portrays insults as persuasive tools that convince audiences of their superiority over others, thereby generating support and shared identities. Identities of superiority allow groups to create new hierarchies of power and interrogate and reinforce existing ones. C claims that such tactical uses of insults justify their rhetorical interpretation and highlight the integral role they play in culture and society.

Overall, C provides a significant amount of data and a thoroughly-researched discussion that should appeal to a broad audience and serve as a helpful resource for further study. His work challenges the common notion of insults as purely divisive, redefining them as creative hallmarks of social interaction. C also demonstrates the highly persuasive and functional application of insults, creating a unique and convincing argument for a rhetorical approach to them. More importantly, this work is among the first scholarly discussions of insults, a field that has been largely overlooked in previous linguistic research.