Author’s name:
Maria A. Vasileva – Linguistics University of Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
Abstract:
In the article, the author emphasizes that the Internet is now incorporated into the system of socialization agents, dictating new, more democratic models of interpersonal relations made possible by the anonymity of published messages. The mediation of communication based on the use of computer technologies creates a sense of freedom of self-expression, which, in its turn, leads to the erosion of barriers in the process of verbal interaction, a blurring of stylistic boundaries, and the colloquialization of communication. All these factors naturally lead to an intensification in the use of emotionally evaluative words and expressions, which are predominantly characterized by negative connotations and marked aggressiveness. This aggressive potential is often realized verbally through implicit forms of expression. The present study analyses the phenomenon of implicit verbal aggression as a specific form of response by internet users to current political events. The empirical material for the analysis consisted of user comments on political articles published in the authoritative English-language periodical The Washington Post, as well as on the Russian-language news portal InoSMI (RIA Novosti), and the specialized military-political news site Military Review (Voennoye Obozreniye). The selection of these platforms is justified by their differing target audiences and, consequently, the potential for diversity in the manifestation of verbal aggression. The author defines the concept of implicit verbal aggression, identifies the means of its expression, and provides a brief characterization of the relevant political event. The article presents data on the most frequent means of expressing implicit verbal aggression, as well as the percentage of aggressive comments on each of the sites examined. The results of the analysis indicate that the activity and nature of the use of various means of implicit verbal aggression exhibit national specificity. It is concluded that the use of implicit verbal aggression by authors of Russian-language and English-language comments pursues different objectives. The author also emphasizes that the use of explicit verbal aggression is a distinctive feature of the English-language audience, whereas Russian-language commentators prefer covert (implicit) verbal aggression. It is noted that within the Russian-language segment of online comments, the objects of aggression are predominantly U.S. political figures and American citizens. In the English-language comments, the primary focus of aggression is directed at the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, as well as U.S. President Donald Trump and American conservative political commentator Tucker Carlson.
| Section | LANGUAGE AND CULTURE |
| DOI: | 10.47388/2072-3490/lunn2025-71-3-124-134 |
| Downloads | 1013 |
| Key words | implicit verbal aggression; media discourse; mass media language; Russian-speaking mass media; English-speaking mass media |