This thesis investigates the lexical semantics of nice and a set of other superficially "simple" sociality concepts (rude, polite and manners) in Australian English. When appropriately analysed, these words reveal much about the socially accepted and approved ways of behaving in Australian society. As expected of heavily culture-laden words, nice and rude lack precise translation equivalents in many languages and can be regarded as cultural key words (Levisen & Waters, Forthcoming; Wierzbicka 1997, 2010). The comparative reference to French (for example, nice vs. gentil lit. 'kind', rude vs. mal élevé lit. 'badly brought up') highlights differences in ways of behaving and construals of sociality.

This thesis is an inquiry into discrimination, from a semantic perspective. In the discourse of discrimination, there is a set of key words. These terms are identified as the 'processes' of discrimination, the progressive stages and manifestations of sociocultural conflict. There are several dimensions to discrimination: a 'rhetorical' dimension, consisting of the speech acts of discrimination; a 'social' dimension, including the behaviours associated with discrimination; and a 'cognitive' dimension, which includes the underlying attitudes and ideologies. This thesis presents and justifies semantic explications for a field of words pertaining to the language of abuse, hatred and the 'processes' of discrimination. The discussion is categorised into four sections, commencing with an examination of the speech act verbs: 'insult', 'abuse', 'denigrate', 'vilify' and 'offend'. Then follows an analysis of words that describe the social acts of discrimination,including 'dehumanise', 'demonise', 'marginalise', 'stigmatise' and 'discriminate'. Next is an analysis of words that describe the cognitive elements of discrimination, including 'stereotype', 'intolerance', 'prejudice', 'xenophobia', 'racism' and 'sexism'. The analysis considers aspects of semantic phenomena, including: synonymy, polysemy, metaphor and ambiguity. The final section is a treatise on overt and covert discrimination, and discusses perspectives and directions in this area of research.