I linguaggi dei Troll. Fenomenologie e semiotiche di una forma particolare di Hate Speech

This paper proposes a historical and semiotic reconstruction of the Troll phenomenon, which is part of the social semiospheres and represents one of the forms of Hate Speech in the case of its pragmatic and online variants. It is part of Philosophy of language and has reference to the pragmatic studies by Claudia Bianchi, which deal precisely with Hate Speech. Another reference is to Semiotics regarding Massimo Leone’s study dedicated to Troll’ "communication/non-communication". But the most important reference is a very detailed study of the Troll phenomenon by Whitney Phillips, who deals with media and with online disinformation. Our critical review will allow the reader to orient himself through the web troll phenomenology, which presents sometimes banal, other times complex meanings. Troll are a contemporary version of Tricksters and like them love to break the harmonious and recognized Order of Discourse. In the collective imagination, Tricksters have always had an ethical-political task, while the Troll are almost always animated only by a destructive will. They are able to make many proselytes, in view of an unlimited semiosis with unpredictable outcomes, in the name of an authentic Cancel Culture.