ONYM PLAY AS AN ELEMENT OF HATE SPEECH IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze onymic lexical units that fall into the category of hate speech in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The object of research is (quasi)onyms, which are a result of onym play and are used as elements of hate speech. The subject of research is word-forming and semantic means of creating (quasi)onyms. To achieve the objectives of the study, a number of methods were used, primarily descriptive and structural methods. Contextual analysis was used to clarify the meaning of the studied lexical units. We also used the methods of word-formation and stylistic analysis. The article confirms the previously formed ideas about the onym play and the hate speech enriched with new observations, in particular about the onym play at the level of graphics. Basing on the sample, we demonstrated the formal structure of (quasi)onyms and their semantics; it is clarified how the aggressive semantics of the components of (quasi)onyms achieves aggressiveness of expression. The onym play through which hate speech is realized is manifested through contamination (involving obscene components and components that name local realities associated with stereotypes); imitative (phonics) word formation; word-formation based on appellatives and verbs; metaphorization. It is appropriate to distinguish between anthroponymic and toponymic quasi-onyms, as these categories convey thematically different directions of aggression. Anal-fecal and sexual invective strategies are implemented through quasi-onyms. The morpheme structure of quasi-names also includes lexical units that are stereotypically associated with national culture in a negative sense. A group that nominates and implements elements of hate speech is not always familiar with the toponymy of the group to which the hate speech is directed, so sometimes, real toponymy (and anthroponymy) is used in the context of aggression. Prospects for the study include clarification of the terms quasi-onym, quasi-toponym, quasi-anthroponym, which denote the result of the onym play. We consider it necessary to continue the study of onym play in other related areas of communication, as well as on the material of Western European languages.