Linguistic Explications Of The Russian Politics “Code” (Based On The Dekoder.Org Content)

Abstract

The choice of words and sentences, the creation of new terms, the definition of grammatical form by journalists is the main tool for structuring sociopolitical reality. The paper reveals the dominants of the language code used by dekoder.org journalists when covering news in Russia. Dekoder is a hybrid online format that combines journalistic investigations and scientific arguments in an accessible and plain language for German readers. The method of quantitative and qualitative thematic content analysis allows to determine that vocabulary notes (Gnosen) together with forming a glossary. Gnosmos can be seen as a means of implementing a manipulative strategy in media discourse. The most popular topics describing the image of Russia are characteristics of the political leader and the particularities of the political regime, addressing the country's historical past, the place and role of the opposition, the country in conditions of political tension, attitude towards freedom of speech, censorship and democracy, and government’s actions during the coronavirus pandemic. As a result of the study, three leading semantic dominants in the German political publications about Russia were identified: concepts of Demokratija, Liberale and Juri Dud as a proper noun. Speech means include basic nominations, evaluative vocabulary with a negative connotation, verbal arguments, interrogative sentences, comparisons, metaphors.