METAPHORICAL IMAGE OF THE FUTURE OF RUSSIA IN THE CHINESE NON-INSTITUTIONAL POLITICAL INTERNET DISCOURSE

Abstract

The article deals with the metaphorical image of the future of Russia in the context of anti-Russian sanctions. The study of the image of the future is performed on the material of Chinese non - institutional political Internet discourse. It is defined as a hybrid format of media and political discourses that transmits axiological attitudes of agents of electronic - mediated communication and provides their status equality. The web - based opinion exchange service 知乎 (Zhihu) is used as the source of research material. The aim is to analyze the meanings of political metaphors that are verbalized when modeling images of the future of Russia and its anticipated relations with other powers. The object of the research is metaphorical models involved in conceptualization of the image of Russian future in the Chinese non - institutional political Internet discourse. The analysis of the material is held within the framework of linguistic political prognostics. The article presents the study of the system of metaphorical models, which is fixed in Chinese non - institutional political Internet discourse about the future of Russia. The paper employs the methods of metaphorical modeling, linguistic, cultural, cognitive and discourse analyses. The analysis of the system of metaphorical models contains quantitative and content processing. The authors identify and analyze dominant metaphorical models and factors that influence activity of certain models in Chinese political Internet discourse. Dominant models include metaphors of inanimate nature, relationship, organism, sport, games, wildlife, and monarchy. The analysis of the system of metaphorical models proves that the present relationship between Russia, America and Europe determines their “dark” future, which is why metaphorical units with a negative component prevail, while positively colored metaphorical units model the “bright” future of Russian-Chinese relationships, which is determined by the existing relations between Russia and China.