Productive methods of creating ethnophaulisms in contemporary internet discourse 

Abstract.

PRODUCTIVE METHODS OF CREATING ETHNOPHAULISMS IN CONTEMPORARY INTERNET DISCOURSE

Oleg Hirnyak

Department of Applied linguistics, Lviv Polytechnic National University, Lviv, Ukraine.

Abstract

Ethnonyms are denominations to identify ethnic groups, nationalities or nations and reflect various aspects of the culture and history of these ethnic groups. As there is probably no other available word, we will use "ethnophaulism" specifically to refer to derogatory names for another racial or ethnic group.

These denominations are an essential element of the linguistic picture of the world of each ethnic group because they help to interpret the world according to the stereotypes of the linguistic community. Stereotypes and associations connected with ethnonyms are socially and culturally specified. The realities of the russian-Ukrainain war significantly influenced the stereotypes of the Ukrainian linguistic community, which makes it possible to claim that the stereotypes are changeable. Research on the ways of creating ethnonyms shows that the most productive methods of their formation are suffixation, truncation, compounding, and there are also many evaluative compounds.

Background: Ethnonyms are an important element of the linguistic worldview of each ethnic group, as they help perceive the world according to the stereotypes of the linguistic community. Stereotypes and associations associated with ethnonyms are socially and culturally determined. The relevance of the research problem of ethnofaulisms formations lies in need to clarify and study the mechanisms of creating these words in the language of different ethnic groups. Ethnofaulisms reflect the cultural and social peculiarities of each ethnicity. Hence, investigating their formation is crucial for a better understanding of the cultural context and language specificity of the studied linguistic community.

However, the research on forming ethnofaulisms calls for more detailed and systematic approach. There need to be more comprehensive studies that cover various aspects and ways of forming ethnofaulisms in different linguistic communities. Additionally, there are issues with the standardization and classification of ethnofaulisms, complicating the comparison and analysis of research results.

Changes in social and cultural conditions can affect the formation of ethnofaulisms, which necessitates constant updating and expanding research in this area.

Therefore, the research into the ways of forming ethnofaulisms needs to develop comprehensive and systematic studies for a better understanding of the mechanisms of creating ethnofaulisms in the languages of different ethnicities, as well as establish their classification and standardization for further comparison and analysis of research results.

Purpose: This research aims to analyse prevailing types of formation of ethnonyms/ethnofaulisms in modern Ukrainian internet discourse.

Results: Modern military realities provide a "personal experience" upon which stereotypical perceptions are formed and verbalised using appropriate word formation methods. Thus, it can be argued that the stereotype contains both stable and variable components. We noticed the use of many suffixes, which indicates that authors can express subtle emotions and feelings through them.

Discussion: Therefore, modern linguistics views stereotypes as an essential component of human perception of the world. They are a necessary tool for achieving one of the main goals of human activity – standardization, capacity, and a high level of generalization. Stereotypes help combine perception, thinking, and language, forming an essential link in understanding the world around us. The use of linguistic stereotypes involves semantic stereotyping, which is particularly evident in the use of ethnonyms. This contributes to reducing the number of semantic meanings and facilitates the selection of specific means for conveying the necessary information. Stereotypes contain both stable and variable components, indicating the dynamic nature of this phenomenon. Using the example of ethnonyms, we saw how events could influence the creation and modification of new words, leading to the need to clarify their meanings and interpretations.

In our research, we have concluded that the dominant ways of word formation are suffixation, truncation, and compounding. There are also many emotionally charged compounds in the words with negative connotations to intensify negativity and generate a different meaning. We have seen many suffixes, indicating that authors can convey the subtlest emotions and feelings through them. Language is alive and constantly changing phenomenon. It inspires further research to help understand the meanings of words that have not made it into dictionaries yet but expand the studies of language of emotions and feelings further.

Keywords: ethnophaulisms, ethnonyms, stereotypes, word formation, assessment.

Vitae

Oleg Hirnyak is a Postgraduate student of the Department of Applied Linguistics at Lviv Polytechnic National University. His areas of research interests include linguistics, translation studies, ethnolinguistics and  assessment of ethnicity.

Correspondence: oleh.h.hirniak@lpnu.ua 

Article.

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