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Linguistic Analysis of Conflict as a Means of Intercultural Communication

Student: Vasilkova Anna-maria

Supervisor: Elena Lutkova

Faculty: School of Foreign Languages

Educational Programme: Foreign Languages and Intercultural Communication (Bachelor)

Final Grade: 10

Year of Graduation: 2021

Key words: Conflict, culture, intercultural communication, globalization, mass media, linguostylistic devices The relevance of this research paper stems from the subject matter itself - media discourse directly influences the development of language and is currently a focus of a wide range of studies. The aim of this research was to identify, provide examination and comparison of linguostylistic devices employed by journalists when describing intercultural conflicts. Specifically, articles from both English and Russian media. This graduation paper is structured as follows: In the Chapter I major areas of research in the field of intercultural communication were identified, as well as conflictology in the context of intercultural communication on the basis of traditional mass media resources. Moreover, a significant portion of the research is dedicated to linguistic means and their role in the coverage of conflicts. In chapter II a case-by-case study of expressive language means used in the articles devoted to the conflict in Belarus in 2020 will be conducted. The devices of English and Russian origin are going to be analysed in accordance with the theory of G. Hofstede on cultural dimensions. In the conclusion the following results were defined: The most predominantly used stylistic device in the coverage of intercultural conflicts in English as well as in Russia mass media was the metaphor (22% and 31% respectively), due to the traditional expressiveness of this very device. A specific feature of Russian media language was discovered to be the frequent usage of euphemisms along with allusions (with their help 11% and 17% of respective examples were formed). Their frequency can be explained by the intention to be closer to the general population that is typical for Russian media discourse. The prevalence of phrases that create a polysemantic effect in British and American mass media articles can be attributed to the western journalistic tradition, as well as to a more ironic attitude towards the described material, that is rooted in deep cultural differences according to G. Hofstede’s theory of cultural dimensions. The attempt to create a vivid image of the events is a driving force behind the predominance of metaphors and other expressive means explored in the articles, which can be linked to a contrasting political agenda of the majority of mass media resources scrutinized in this paper. It is expected that the conclusions that were drawn in the course of this research are to be considered in the trainings relevant to such aspects as «Mass-media studies», «The practice of intercultural communication», «Conflictology», along with the further research into conflicts as a means of intercultural communication in the context of mass-media studies.

Full text (added May 19, 2021)

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