The functions of figurative units in mediatized political discourse

Tan' Tsze ORCID: 0009-0007-9525-2700 Russian Russian Post-graduate Student; Department of General and Russian Linguistics; A.S. Pushkin State Institute of the Russian Language 6 Akademika Volgina str., Moscow, 117485, Russia 870583493@qq.com

With the development of information technology, mediatized political discourse, as a new form of dissemination of political information, is gradually becoming an important element of political communication. This form of discourse not only provides the audience with the opportunity to receive information about political events, but also serves as a bridge for interaction and dialogue between politicians and society. As S.V. Ionova notes: "Discursive practices are constantly adapting to changing social contexts and evolving communication tools. This process leads to the emergence of new opportunities for information exchange and interaction, forming special configurations of the communicative space" [Ionova, 2012, p. 164]. One of the characteristics of non-professional political discourse is interdiscursivity [Savelieva, 2022, p. 91], along with it, mediatization develops: politics, like other spheres of public life, is subjected to mediatization [Ionova, Ma Yuxin, 2022, p. 43], in this regard, mediatized political discourse becomes an integral part of political communication. Despite the fact that "the main communicative carrier of political media discourse is a political journalist" [Rusakova and Gribovod, 2014, p. 67], the activity of mediatized political discourse today is supported by politicians themselves. The speech utterances of politicians are no longer limited to certain platforms or narrow audiences, but are distributed through a variety of digital media platforms, reaching a global audience [Royba, 2017, p. 199]. Such a communication environment gives political language a high rate of dissemination and wide coverage, "plays a significant role in shaping public dialogue" [Orlova, 2020, p. 57]. According to N. Fairclough, "mediatized political discourse is a kind of hybrid – a mixture of discourses of everyday life, socio-political movements, various fields of academic and scientific knowledge, etc. It is associated with journalistic discourse, and, accordingly, is represented by a specific "repertoire of voices" (social agents). N. Fairclough considers professional politicians, journalists, politicians in an unconventional sense (representatives of various public organizations and movements), "experts" (political analysts, political scientists) and "ordinary people" to be among the main agents of mediatized political discourse [Fairclough, 1998, p. 148]. Based on the above definitions, in this study, mediatized political discourse is divided into three categories: political talk shows, television and Internet interviews with politicians, and blogs of politicians. The effectiveness of the impact of a political message "largely depends on the figurative content of the statement" [Porchescu, Rubleva, 2019, p. 60].

Imagery, along with associativity, which acts as a special way of reflecting the surrounding world, is a basic property of the language system and its functioning. This phenomenon plays an important role in the speech-thinking process, combining cognitive aspects and lexico-semantic elements of language. H.A. Ilyukhina concludes: "The associative (figurative) method turns out to be a permanent element of speech-thinking activity in general. The assessment of this fact has marked a turn in linguistic research in recent years towards the general linguistic aspect of studying the figurative reflection of reality" [Ilyukhina, 1999, p. 3]. Imagery, as the researchers note, is formed through the interaction of various levels of linguistic content. E.A. Yurina substantiates the specifics of the meaning of a figurative unit as follows: "Figurative meaning is a two–dimensional meaningful structure of a linguistic (lexical) unit, in which the interaction of the subject-conceptual and associative-figurative planes of content conveys a stereotypical (prototypical) specific sensory representation. about the so-called phenomenon through the metaphorical embodiment of the signs of this phenomenon" [Yurina, 2005, p. 131]. So, imagery acts as a link between cognitive and associative perception, which makes it an essential element of both individual and collective understanding of reality.

According to the definition of imagery, five types of figurative units are identified in this study: 1) metaphors and figurative comparisons, 2) idioms, 3) precedent phenomena, 4) proverbs, 5) vernacular and offensive expressions. A random sampling method was used for the analysis, as a result of which 178 texts were collected (political talk shows - 63, interviews with politicians - 55, blogs of politicians - 60). Figure 1 shows the distribution of different types of figurative units.

Figure 1 – Using different types of figurative units

Based on the collected data, several important observations can be made. Firstly, idioms make up the largest number of figurative units, which indicates the widespread use of stable expressions in political speech. Secondly, metaphors and precedent phenomena occupy a significant share, which underlines their importance in creating expressive images and ensuring the coherence of political discourse. Proverbs and offensive expressions are less common, but they play a key role in conveying emotions and forming a relationship with the audience.

Figurative units play a key role in mediatized political discourse. They help to make messages more convincing, memorable, and enhance its effect on the recipient's emotions. In the context of the mediatization of political discourse, this is especially important, since competition for audience attention and the need to convey complex ideas in an accessible form require the active use of expressive means. In the course of analyzing the factual material, we have identified the following functions of figurative units in mediatized political discourse:

1) Evaluation function

In mediatized political discourse, a subjective assessment is no less important than an objective one. The evaluative function of speech as a whole is closely related to the expressive function: the attitude towards the subject of speech or the opponent, expressed using figurative units, acquires rich emotional shades, increases the likelihood of emotional involvement of addressees in the problem being covered. The evaluative function of figurative units is based on the system-linguistic properties of their semantics, as well as on the features of their implementation in speech. Due to the interaction of the denotative and tropical spheres, they can express the speaker's rational and emotional assessment of the subject of speech.

The US calculated that we would not last even a month in 2022, after they would bring down on us, in their own words, hellish sanctions. And they're right about something: they behave like real demons. Neither Italy, nor Germany, nor France, nor Britain, nor the United States itself would have recovered from such sanctions^[1].

In this example, the author expresses a critical attitude towards the actions of the West using the evaluative expression "infernal sanctions", which reflects a high degree of intensity of negative assessment (from the word hell — according to religious beliefs, a place where the souls of deceased sinners, doomed to eternal torment, fall [Kuznetsov, 2008, p. 29]), including The number is supplemented by the author's subjective attitude to the specified situation. The analogy between Western countries applying sanctions against Russia and "real demons" (from the word demon — according to religious beliefs, an evil spirit, a tempting person; evil spirits, the devil, the devil [Kuznetsov, 2008, p. 72]) additionally emphasizes the negative assessment of these events.

佩洛西口中的民主，不过是一件爬满虱子的袍子，乍看华丽，近看不忍卒睹 / Democracy, which says Pelosi is covered with lice Bathrobe: at first glance it looks great, but upon closer look it becomes unbearable to watch^[2].

The metaphor of the "lice-covered robe" is a vivid imaginative assessment of Western democracy. This expression performs an evaluative function, emphasizing the author's subjective negative attitude towards the political concept he criticizes. The visual image of the "lice-covered robe" contrasts with the initially attractive concept of democracy, which creates a clear emotional separation between what appears outwardly attractive and what is hidden behind this facade.

In mediatized political discourse, the evaluative function plays a key role, as it helps to express the author's subjective attitude to the issues under discussion. The use of figurative units enhances the author's assessment, attracts the attention of the audience, and contributes to the achievement of communication goals.

2) The impact function;

In the conditions of the modern information society, which is increasingly penetrating into various spheres of life, the function of influence is becoming the main function of the mass media. In this context, the recipient is perceived as an object of influence, and the effectiveness of this influence directly depends on how successfully figurative units are used in the speech of politicians. Intentional speech influence can be carried out through the authority of a bearer of an institutionally higher status; manipulation; persuasion, argumentation; force [Karasik, 1992, pp. 47-85]. For example,

Regarding the reduction of nuclear weapons, which the Americans are seeking because they are losing, Putin replied briefly: "Fuck them." This part and this area, yes, is related to nuclear weapons, and as the ultimate form of escalation (Kulikov D. The right to know, 06/17/2023).

Vladimir Putin gave a sharp, concise answer to the question about nuclear weapons: "Fuck them." This abusive expression not only demonstrates the authority of the author of the statement, but also emphasizes the strength and steadfastness of his position due to the expressiveness of his intonation. This form of utterance, combining directness and emotionality, makes it possible to strengthen the image of the leader in the eyes of the audience, enhancing the impact of his words and bringing him closer to the audience through the use of figurative units of colloquial speech style.

The number of senior idiots in NATO countries is growing. One newly minted idiot, the British Defense Minister, decided to transfer the English training courses for Ukrainian soldiers to the territory of Ukraine itself (Medvedev D. Telegram, 01.10.2023).

"Idiot" (branno) is a fool, a blockhead, a dumbass [Kuznetsov, 2008, p. 375]. "Cretin" (expletive) is a fool, a dumbass [ibid., p. 470]. In this example, the use of lexemes with a pronounced negative connotation reflects a deliberate (intentional) effect on the audience. These terms evoke an emotional response from listeners or readers and enhance the critical perception of the figure of the British Minister of Defense, which corresponds to the function of enhancing the impact, creating a vivid, imaginative picture of the situation. Due to the use of abusive expressions, the author's speech becomes more emotional and visual, which enhances argumentation and increases the effect on listeners.

The function of the influence of figurative units is especially noticeable in the speech of politicians. Through figurative units, a politician can convey authority, manipulate the emotions of a mass addressee, enhance the persuasive power of a statement and thus increase the effectiveness of communicative interaction with the audience.

3) The function of enhancing or softening the content

In mediatized political discourse, addressees often use figurative units in order to enhance or soften the utterance. The function of amplification, or sharpening, is aimed at giving the utterance emotional saturation, to enhance the assessment of the subject of speech. Pragmatically, mitigation can be defined as "a decrease in the intensity of the illocutionary force of an utterance determined by certain parameters of speech contact (individual psychological and social)" [Takhtarova, 2010, p. 25]. The mitigation category is one of the key communicative categories that, along with politeness and tolerance, regulates the verbal behavior of communicants in the process of political communication [Takhtarova, 2010, p. 256]. In mediatized political discourse, the use of certain figurative units can reduce the harshness of statements, reduce possible conflicts and disputes, giving the expression a softer character. For example:

The official representative of the US National Security Council Adrienne Watson: Ukraine was not involved in the terrorist attack in Krasnogorsk, the banned ISIS is to blame for everything. If only they could figure out the assassination of their own President Kennedy so quickly. But no, they haven't been able to find out who killed him for more than 60 years. Or maybe it's ISIS, too? Or will they delay with specifics for another 60 years, playing with any "constructive uncertainty" (Zakharova M. Telegram, 03/24/2024)?

The use of a precedent phenomenon - a reference to the assassination of President Kennedy - serves to enhance the emotional intensity of the content of the statement. Comparing the long-standing unresolved Kennedy assassination case with a quick and unambiguous assessment of the situation in Ukraine creates a sharp contrast, which increases the focus on criticism of the American government. The phrase "for more than 60 years they have not been able to find out who killed him after all" underlines and reinforces the negative assessment. This use of historical context and provocative comparison gives the statement additional power, enhancing the emotional impact on the audience.

几年前，一份欧盟政策文件给中国同时贴上伙伴、竞争者、制度性对手三种标签，但事实证明，这种三重定位不符合事实，也不可行，反而给中欧关系发展带来不必要的干扰和阻碍。就好比汽车开到十字路口，红灯、黄灯、绿灯三种信号灯同时亮起， A few years ago, one of the policy documents of the European Union simultaneously assigned three labels to China: partner, competitor and systemic rival. However, in practice, it turned out that such a threefold positioning does not correspond to reality and is impractical, but on the contrary, hinders and hinders the development of Sino-European relations. It's like if a car pulled up to an intersection, and the red, yellow, and green traffic lights would light up at the same time — how would you drive^[3]?

In this example, comparing a political decision with a traffic light serves the function of softening the utterance, reducing its sharpness and making it more understandable and accessible. The image is a vivid but gentle depiction of the absurdity of the situation: instead of directly condemning China's triple positioning as contradictory and ineffective, the metaphor gently points to the problem without focusing on its negative consequences. This helps to soften the emotional burden of the statement, making it less aggressive and more constructive.

In mediatized political discourse, figurative units are actively used to enhance or soften the content of an utterance, depending on the goals of the speaker. Reinforcement allows you to give the utterance emotional intensity, to emphasize criticism or condemnation. Softening, on the contrary, reduces the sharpness of the utterance.

Thus, this study has revealed the key role of figurative units in mediatized political discourse, demonstrating that they not only contribute to effective interaction with the audience, but are also an integral part of the process of forming a political image. The use of imagery in political discourse enhances its appeal and persuasiveness, creating vivid, easy-to-remember images that influence the perception of political messages. In addition, figurative units play an important role in expressing personal emotions, assessing the political situation, as well as in strengthening or weakening certain aspects of the content, which in turn has a significant impact on the cognitive and emotional reactions of the audience. The prospects for future research suggest an in-depth study of the use of figurative units in political discourses of different cultures and countries, which will reveal the features of rhetorical strategies and national differences in their application. An important direction is also to expand the study of the functions of figurative units, with an emphasis on their cultural characteristics and rhetorical significance in the context of political communication. An additional promising aspect is the analysis of the influence of figurative units on the formation of political identity, as well as their role in socio-cultural contexts, which opens up new horizons for intercultural communication and related disciplines.

^[1] https://vk.com/wall-70034991_683242?ysclid=m56tzkm24k798603243

^[2] https://3w.huanqiu.com/a/16c2d1/495bqNp7PC0

^[3] https://news.qq.com/rain/a/20240307A04WO100