Ways of Transmitting Verbal Aggression in Different System Languages in Political Discourse (on the Example of Pre-Election Debates)

Abstract

This research article examines the transmission of verbal aggression in political discourse, particularly in pre-election debates, across three distinct system languages: English, Kazakh, and Russian. The study presents a comprehensive analysis of how candidates employ verbal aggression as a communication strategy in debates conducted in these languages, taking into account their unique cultural and linguistic features. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative discourse analysis and quantitative content analysis, to identify and categorize the various strategies and levels of verbal aggression used by candidates in the selected debates. Additionally, the study introduces the term «aggressogen,» a measure of the degree of verbal aggression in a person’s speech across different system languages and the tolerance levels of speakers of each language. Results demonstrate that the utilization of verbal aggression in pre-election debates evokes diverse reactions from the audience, which are influenced by cultural norms and individual preferences of listeners. The study finds that candidates may employ aggressive expressions strategically to assert strength and determination or to discredit opponents, but such behavior can also lead to negative perceptions and rejection from certain audience segments. Furthermore, the research highlights the significance of cultural and linguistic nuances in shaping the interpretation and acceptance of verbal aggression in political discourse. The study emphasizes the importance of considering cultural contexts when analyzing the impact of verbal aggression on the audience’s perception of candidates. Moreover, the introduction of the term «aggressogen» contributes to the field of linguistic studies and political discourse analysis, laying the groundwork for further research in this domain. Overall, this research offers valuable implications for political communication and translation studies, deepening our understanding of verbal aggression’s role in shaping political discourse in diverse linguistic and cultural settings.