The Expanding Nexus of Conflict: Multidimensional Struggles across Discourses and Domains

Conflict is an intrinsic aspect of human interaction which emerges in both overt and subtle ways across various communicative contexts. By definition, conflict has traditionally been associated with physical confrontation, warfare, and political unrest, yet from a sociolinguistic and discourse analytical perspective, the concept extends well beyond such associations. The manner in which individuals and groups negotiate power, identity, and ideology through language is, in fact, inevitably, even naturally, imbued with opposition. From a discursive standpoint therefore, conflict is not merely an outcome of opposing positions but a dynamic process that unfolds through competing narratives where language plays a crucial role. Discursive strategies such as mitigation, polarisation and purposeful ambiguity are frequently employed to frame ideological struggles in particular ways, reinforcing or contesting existing power structures. Conflict is also central to identity construction and group belonging. It can emerge at the intersection of ethnicity, gender, class, and other social variables, as linguistic choices and communicative styles become sites of struggle over legitimacy and representation.