Navigating racial slurs: pragmatic insights from Malaysian political tweets

Malaysia, as a multicultural nation after its independence in 1957 and the formation of Malaysia in 1963, was still threatened by racial tensions due to the lack of cultural awareness. The lack of cultural awareness and pragmatics competence in intercultural communication was manifested in the usage of racial slurs. As racial slurs were commonly used to insult other races, the usage of such words endorsed racism and racial discrimination, which resulted in social and racial disharmony. This study examined the pragmatics behind the usage of racial slurs in Malaysian political tweets to understand their implications on intercultural communication and social harmony. The study used purposive sampling to select fifteen postings containing racial slurs using a qualitative research design with a content analysis method. The study analysed the pragmatics behind the usage of racial slurs in Malaysian political tweets. The findings showed that although not all racial slurs were categorised as weaponised, the results indicated that Malaysians had the opportunity to select their language conscientiously, choosing neutral alternatives or refraining from using slurs entirely to show respect for other races. This held significant importance for the diverse society of Malaysia, where the preservation of social and racial harmony should not be put at risk.