"Dåligt och onödigt av public service" : En textanalytisk studie av svärande och språkliga normkonflikter i public service

Sammanfattning: The aim of this study is to analyse and categorise reports of swearing in public service media for the past ten years, as well as analysing the approach taken to the private persons making the reports and the reports themselves by the governing body Granskningsnämnden. Additionally, the language norm conflicts displayed were analysed. The methods used to accomplish this included directed content analysis of the reports and their context, and analysis of interpersonal communication as well as legitimation analysis of the written response provided by the authority. In total, 46 reports and two versions of the response letter were analysed. Finally, the language attitudes and associated norms of both sides were analysed and compared to distinguish conflicts. The results indicate that the private persons who report swearing have different expectations of public service than the media company or the governing body has, which is the cause of the language norm conflicts. The results also indicate that the presence of swearing in a public service media context appears more offensive that the swearing itself, as most of the swear words were not defined. Further, the analysis of the approach taken to the private persons making the reports indicates an authoritarian stance and an impersonal, distanced approach.