Open AccessEUPHEMIZATION AS PART OF RUSSIAN MEDIA OPPOSITION DISCOURSE
Author(s) -
Alla Teplyashina,
Vadim Golubev
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of teaching english for specific and academic purposes/≠the ≠journal of teaching english for specific and academic purposes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2334-9212
pISSN - 2334-9182
DOI - 10.22190/jtesap1904453t
Subject(s) - opposition (politics) , journalism , mass media , vocabulary , criticism , legislation , politics , media studies , sociology , political science , law , linguistics , philosophy
Opposition discourse does not have a long history or established traditions in Russia as it does in the West where it has long become an integral part of political culture and plays a special role in modern mass communications. This paper raises the problem of risks associated with the danger of critical journalism being branded extremism on the one hand and violating the law prohibiting journalist using vocabulary not part of the Russian literary standard, on the other. It presents the results of content analysis of media texts that use a variety of expressive means of veiling sharp criticism of Russian government and mitigating emotions such as euphemisms. Considerable attention is paid to queering as an aspect of the verbal picture of an anti-world. A case study of Novaya Gazeta, the most consistent critic of Russian government, illustrates the impact recent legislation on extremism and the use of the Russian language has had on journalism in Russia and examines the ways opposition media have employed to comply with the regulations.