Designatum Analysis in Forensic Linguistic Expertise: On the Question of Constructing a Methodology

Abstract

The authors substantiate the use of the semiotic approach in applied research as adequate to the integrative nature of speech activity and clarify the concept conflictogenicity at the level of three components of a linguistic sign according to G. Frege: name, denotation, and especially designatum, which does not imply the existence of absolutely identical concepts in the minds of different people. Using the example of an expert opinion, the implementation of the semiotic approach in the situation of conflict designatum, as the most difficult element of semantics for language analysis, as well as the symbolic nature of the “controversial” text are demonstrated. The article highlights the differences between the interpretation of the text as “controversial” and “conflictogenic”.