Viral Discourse

'With the search towards taking 'meaningful action' as discourse analysts in a time of crisis, the edited collection is one of the most profound among a small set of studies conducted in this emerging field. It provides a rich analytical and critical perspective to real-life problems, raising some important questions in politics and language policies. Its focus on the link between semiotics and ideologies is crucial.' Cagla Karatepe, Language in Society

• 1. Introduction: are discourse analysts 'essential workers' Rodney H. Jones; 2. The veil of civilization and the semiotics of the mask Rodney H. Jones; 3. Communicating expertise in the COVID-19 pandemic: a genre analytical perspective Christoph Hafner; 4. Face masks and cultural identity on YouTube Wing Yee Jenifer Ho; 5. Investigating media representations of SARS-CoV-2 in the UK, USA and Germany: what can a comparative corpus-based discourse analysis contribute to our understanding of the pandemic? Sylvia Jaworska; 6. Sense and sensibility: urban public signs during a pandemic Zhu Hua; 7. When the internet gets 'coronafied': pandemic creativity and humour in internet memes Erhan Aslan; 8. #HateIsAVirus: talking about COVID-19 'hate' Carmen Lee; 9. Order out of chaos: coronavirus communication and the construction of competence Rodney H. Jones; 10. How to make sense of communication and interaction in a pandemic Elisabetta Amadi.