Socially endorsed insulting verbal duels

Though it may seem that insulting a person is a universally condemned behaviour, there
are nevertheless instances of such type of language use being not only tolerated but even
encouraged. As they constitute very intriguing phenomena, I have decided to analyse them from
a socio-linguistic viewpoint.
The search for socially endorsed use of invectives spans very distant geographical
locations: from the Trobriand Islands, Scandinavia and the British Isles, West Africa, to the North
American mainland and the northern extremities of both Northern America and eastern Asia.
Diverse cultures inhabiting the above-mentioned places represent different language groups, and
yet testify a similarity in their approach to socially regulated insulting. Therefore, I will analyse
kingullugcaraq, i.e. a ritual performed by the Yupik, and contrast it with a song duel, which is a
rather well-known ceremony among the Inuits. But as such behaviour is not typical only for
very isolated, primitive cultures, I will also look at playing the dozens, that is the way the
African-American subculture of modern day USA sometimes acts. What is more, a very
interesting ceremony takes place on the Kiriwina Islands where the local community gathers
only to watch two family groups hurl invectives on one another in a ritual called yakala which is
somewhat similar to the hal of the Anlo-Ewe of Ghana. Yet another phenomenon called flyting
is recorded in literature. It involves pejorative language and is utilized only to offend the
opponent.
The aim of the paper is to offer an individual insight into these socio-linguistic
phenomena as well as to provide a synoptic analysis.