Linguistic Interpretation of Russian Political Agenda Through Fake, Deepfake, Post-Truth

Abstract

The paper examines the occurrences of fake, deepfake, and post-truth as destructive social phenomena from the linguistic point of view. The current situation with the amount of untruths said, euphemisms for lies used, facts withheld by those who do politics and write about it makes the study of the destructive social phenomena of special importance. The aim of the present study is to outline the linguistic factors influencing the process of fake news and deepfakes’ formation. The materials containing hoax information about Russia and its activities on the international arena serve as the research basis for the analysis. The rebuttal published on the site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation are also analysed in order to differentiate false information and true one. The methods of linguopragmatic, discursive and linguoculturological analysis, as well as contextual study of communicative situations are used. The authors present an extended typology of pragmatic and proper speech methods and means specific to text formation of fake news and deepfakes. The definition of fake news is given. Deepfakes are another mendacious genre form in the intercultural political space. The borderline is marked between fake news, deepfakes, and post-ruth. Some rules how to distinguish fake news (deepfake) from truth are given. The conclusion is made that the destructive social phenomena under study are not innocuous forms of entertainment, they represent a real social threat to anyone who is exposed to them, they do have political consequences, and they violate the main principle of journalism — “it’s impossible to show what doesn’t exist”