Abstract
This paper describes and analyses in detail three forms of violence in communication - ignoring, labelling and stigmatisation. The different forms of communication violence are illustrated with examples from school practice.
The results of recent research on language violence in secondary schools are also mentioned. For each of the three forms, the following questions are answered: - What do we mean by this form of language violence? The respective form is briefly defined on the basis of its etymology. - How is it used? The linguistic means and procedures of using the relevant form are explained. - Why does it work? The effect of the relevant form of violence on the human psyche is given.
The human need for recognition is damaged by all three forms. The recipients are either completely neglected or their individuality is displaced by generalisation - they are not seen as unique individuals but as part of a group that someone else has chosen for them.
Violence in communication can have serious consequences for the recipient that speakers are often unaware of.