PECULIARITIES OF THE CONTENT CONSTRUCTING OF POLITICAL MEDIA DISCOURSE (on the example of English-language political media texts)

Main Article Content

Valentyna VELIVCHENKO

Abstract

Introduction. This article explains the peculiarities of the content constructing of the political media discourse of the Russian Internet resource sputniknews.com for September 2016, represented by English-language political media texts about events in Ukraine.

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to disclose peculiarities of the content constructing of the political media discourse in question via the analysis of the cognitive plane of its objectification.

Results. The article holds that the political media discourse is a complex phenomenon that has three planes of its objectification: cognitive, pragmatic, and communicative (linguistic). The analysis of its cognitive plane accomplished as the analysis of the content of its political media texts enables to disclose peculiarities of their content constructing. The article proves that this constructing is typically based on a purposeful manipulation of information on behalf of the message author (sender). It is done in different ways and by various means – by faking facts, by their partial distortion, by a shift within the concept semantic field, by the concept simplification, and by stereotyping. The very form of facts presentation also contributes to information distortion – it can be statement, repetition, fragmentation, breaking news, sensation, and non-alternativity (of information source or of view point). Such а content constructing, typical of the analyzed political media texts, enables the message author (sender) to present concrete facts, political events and the very social reality in the right light, suggesting or imposing on the message recipient a certain (necessary) understanding of what is perceived.

Originality. Originality of this article is provided by a complex approach to the analysis of the political media discourse. The article contributes to the discourse analysis, in particular to the studies of its cognitive and linguistic-cognitive characteristics.

The perspective of the problem under discussion can be seen in the analysis of interrelated pragmatic and communicative (linguistic) planes of the political media discourse objectification.

Conclusion. Thus, according to the obtained data, the content constructing of English-language political media texts about events in Ukraine, which represent the political media discourse of the Russian Internet resource sputniknews.com for September 2016, is typically based on manipulation of information. Accomplished by the message author (sender) in different ways and by various means, manipulation of information results in various interpretations of concrete facts, political events and social reality with the purpose to suggest or impose on the message recipient a certain (necessary) understanding, which is, in fact, a manipulative impact on public consciousness.

Article Details

Section
Статті

References

Velivchenko, V. F. & Velivchenko, V. O. (2017). Language as a Means of Influencing Consciousness. Cherkasy (in Ukr.).

Dotsenko, Ye. L. (2003). Psychology of Manipulation: Phenomena, Mechanisms, and Protection. Moscow: Rech (in Russ.).

Palshyna, O. M. (2009). Influence of National Media on Foreign Policy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. K. : (in Ukr.).

Kiev Fears Mass Desertion From the Army as Donbass Campaign Sputters [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/ europe/20160929/1045828345/ukraine-mass-desertion-fears.html

DPR Head Denies Donbass Militias’ Involvement in MH17 Flight Crash [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/europe/ 20160929/1045827108/mh17-dpr-militias.html

Scrapping EU Visas for Ukrainians Would Be “Political Suicide for Poland” [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/ europe/20160930/1045870070/ukraine-eu-visa-regime.html

West, Russia Should Develop Strategic Partnership – Former NATO Chief [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/ politics/20160930/1045854325/west-russia-strategic-partnership.html

Blame and Bias: MH17 Plane Crash Investigation’s Goal is “to Discredit Russia” [Electronic source] / Access mode :https://sputniknews.com/ world/20160930/1045878229/russia-ukraine-investigation-plane-crash.html

Making Conclusions on MH17 Crash Premature as Probe Ongoing – Lavrov [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/ world/20160930/1045872311/lavrov-mh17-crash.html

Just Say Sorry: Poroshenko Dodges Ukrainian Nationalists’ Holocaust Culpability [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/ europe/20160930/1045877299/ukraine-israel-diplomatic-scuffle-over-holocaust.html

EXCLUSIVE: Dusseldorf, Moscow “Maintain Bilateral Ties” Despite Sanctions [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/ world/20160923/1045615933/russia-germany-relations-sanctions.html

Russian Foreign Ministry to Summon Dutch Ambassador Over MH17 Probe Report [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/politics/20160930/1045888418/mh17-report-dutch-ambassador.html

MH17 Crash: Dutch Investigators Turn Blind Eye to Russian Data [Electronic source] / Access mode : https://sputniknews.com/world/ 20160929/1045824406/plane-crash-ukraine-investigation-russia.html