Linguistics of information-psychological war in the making: methodological heterogeneity and first results

Abstract

The paper focuses on theoretical and methodological aspects of the development of one of the latest trends in Russian discourse studies – linguistics of information-psychological war. The analysis involves publications, retrieved from Russian electronic library (“Elibrary”) under a thematic subject heading "Linguistics" and "Mass communication", all of which being dedicated to the problems of information confrontation. The main objective is to specify how linguistics of information-psychological war has been developing since 2017, when the research trend was initially proposed by a group of Siberian scholars. Minor task is to determine, what ideas constitute a common around for Russian scholars, that try to unravel the linguistic mechanisms, underlying the complex phenomenon of information-psychological war. Analytical-descriptive approach, including methods of observation, generalization, and interpretation, is employed. It is argued that linguistics of information-psychological war has acquired discursive dimension. It features methodological heterogeneity, recurrence of themes, terminological variability, use of related concepts. It is proved that information-psychological war is treated as a construct, textualized in media discourse. The major theoretical and methodological problem is outlined, which relates to the absence of relevant criteria that could be adequate to identify texts as means of information-psychological war. The results can be used to extend the scope of linguistics of information-psychological war and to increase its capacity for working out the linguistic bases of counteraction to threats in media sphere.

Cognitive-Discursive Approach To The Analysis Of Information War

“…Although terminological heterogeneity is still a mark and a disadvantage of a "young" and "immature" linguistic discipline, which needs to improve its methodological apparatus, the interest of experts to the problems of information war has continued to grow (Kushneruk & Chudinov, 2019). Information war is generally defined as a confrontation between combatants, resulting from a conflict of interests and/or ideologies, which is realized with language use to influence people's mind (individual, collective) for its cognitive suppression and/or subordination, as well as by protection from such negative influence (Linguistics... 2017, p. 13).…”

“…Behind the existing diversity of goals, objectives, and approaches, there lies a fundamental agreement of scholars on understanding information war as a discursive phenomenon. It reflects the unanimity of views that information war has a predominant distribution in the media discourse (Kushneruk & Chudinov, 2019).…”