37.3266, Confs: ADDA6 Panel - Constructing and Deconstructing Pathologised Selves: Digital Tactics, Algorithmic Environments, Consequences and Resistance Across X, Instagram and TikTok (Czech Republic)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-37-3266. Mon Oct 12 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.3266, Confs: ADDA6 Panel - Constructing and Deconstructing Pathologised Selves: Digital Tactics, Algorithmic Environments, Consequences and Resistance Across X, Instagram and TikTok (Czech Republic)

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Date: 09-Oct-2026
From: Manuel Padilla Cruz [mpadillacruz at us.es]
Subject: ADDA6 Panel - Constructing and Deconstructing Pathologised Selves: Digital Tactics, Algorithmic Environments, Consequences and Resistance Across X, Instagram and TikTok


ADDA6 Panel - Constructing and Deconstructing Pathologised Selves:
Digital Tactics, Algorithmic Environments, Consequences and Resistance
Across X, Instagram and TikTok
Short Title: ADDA 6
Theme: Digital Identities and Online Selves

Date: 26-May-2027 - 28-May-2027
Location: Brno, Czech Republic
Contact: MANUEL PADILLA CRUZ
Meeting URL: https://english.phil.muni.cz/adda

Linguistic Field(s): Discourse Analysis; Pragmatics

Submission Deadline: 30-Nov-2026

Social media platforms serve as key arenas where digital identities
are continuously constructed, negotiated and contested under
platform-specific affordances (Davin 2022; Georgalou 2017). A
particularly pernicious phenomenon within these spaces is
'pathologisation', understood as the discursive portrayal of
individuals, groups or institutions as affected by some illness or
disorder (Maruzza 2021). Following Jones et al. (2015), identity
pathologisation on social media platforms may be considered a digital
social practice. Building on identity construction frameworks
(Bucholtz & Hall 2005; Garcés-Conejos Blitvich & Georgakopoulou 2021),
this practice aims at imposing a harmful and degrading identity
through indexical, positional and relational dynamics (Padilla Cruz
2026a, 2026b).
This panel will centre on the discursive mechanisms of identity
pathologisation across three distinct platform environments: X,
Instagram and TikTok. It seeks to gather works that combine corpus
linguistics with digital discourse analytic and sociopragmatic
approaches and methodologies. Contributions are expected to examine
how platformed identities ranging from distinct (marginalised)
communities to (prominent) public figures are discursively denigrated
through pathologisation.
Special attention will be given to how platform-specific semiotic and
technological affordances –e.g., short-form video performativity on
TikTok, visual storytelling on Instagram and text-based threads on X–
shape different pathologising tactics. Beyond mapping delegitimising
mechanisms, the panel also aims to focus on the consequences of
pathologisation and the avenues for resistance. Papers are therefore
expected to explore how targeted individuals and communities
counteract pathologising strategies and narratives through discursive
strategies of reframing, authentication and social restitution
(Garcés-Conejos Blitvich 2024). Additionally, the panel will
scrutinise the role of forgiveness and counter-discourse in restoring
ruined identities, examining whether digital affordances hinder or
facilitate long-term identity repair.
Authors interested in presenting their work in this panel must submit
their abstracts through the conference website:
https://english.phil.muni.cz/adda/registration/abstract-submission?lang=en
Abstracts should be 250-300 words in length (including references).
They must be submitted as a fully anonymised document to ensure a
blind review process.
The deadline for abstract submission is 30th November 2026
(inclusive). Authors will be notified of the acceptance of individual
papers by 15th January 2027.
References:
Bucholtz, M., & Hall, K. (2005). Identity and interaction: A
sociocultural linguistic approach. Discourse Studies, 7(4-5), 585-614.
Darvin, R. (2022). Design, resistance and the performance of identity
on TikTok. Discourse, Context & Media, 46, 100591.
Garcés-Conejos Blitvich, P. (2024). Pragmatics, (im)politeness, and
intergroup communication: A multilayered, discursive analysis of
Cancel Culture. Cambridge University Press
Garcés-Conejos Blitvich, P., & Georgakopoulou, A. (2021). Analysing
identity. In M. Haugh, D. Z. Kádar & M. Terkourafi (Eds.), The
Cambridge handbook of sociopragmatics (pp. 293-314). Cambridge
University Press
Georgalou, M. (2017). Discourse and identity on Facebook. Bloomsbury
Academic.
Jones, R. H., Chik, A., & Hafner, C. A. (2015). Introduction.
Discourse analysis and digital practices. In R. H. Jones, A. Chik & C.
A. Hafner (Eds.), Discourse and digital practices. Doing discourse
analysis in the digital age (pp. 1-17). Routledge.
Maruzza, C. (2021). Herramientas conceptuales para contrarrestar la
patologización trans en la formación de Psicología en Argentina.
Sexualidad, Salud y Sociedad, 37, 1-19.
Padilla Cruz, M. (2026a). La deslegitimación de los políticos
españoles como estrategia de odio en un corpus de X: análisis
discursivo, temático y de sentimiento asistidos por software. Lengua y
Sociedad, 25(1), e32427.
Padilla Cruz, M. (2026b). Identity pathologisation and ambient
affiliation on X: A relevance-theoretic approach. In M.
Mišković-Luković & N. Manojlović (Eds.), Beyond the frontiers:
Perspectives on pragmatic theory and practice (pp. 89-111). University
of Kragujevac.



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