Discourse analysis of crimean conflict in russian-speaking media

The research object of a master thesis is to identify and to investigate representations of conceptual metaphors, which implicate ideology and describe Crimean conflict participants (Russia, Ukraine, Crimea community) or interested parties (Lithuania, EU) in Russian speaking Lithuanian and Russian media, and to indicate how conceptual metaphors coincide or do not in media. In accordance to it, conceptual metaphors were analyzed using J. Charteris-Black critical metaphor analysis method. The question of representations of Crimea conflict parties is actual in wider information warfare and Lithuania’s information security context, as well as in narrowed – conceptual metaphors analysis context. Due to active Lithuanian policy on Crimea issue and great attention of Russian speaking Lithuania’s media to Crimea conflict, as well as their great influence, which might be used for Russian propaganda in information warfare against Lithuania, is urgent to investigate what ideological representations are used in Crimea’s conflict discourse. The first part analyzes how different researchers define the concept of conceptual metaphor, its functions, influence to cognitive process, how metaphor interacts with ideology, what are strategies of metaphor usage in political discourse and by media outlets, finally, represents the method and empirical research data and their selection methodology. The main conclusions of the first part show that scientists agree that metaphors in our language are based on human experience and constitute conceptual system by which we think and act. Because of persuasive function metaphors have great influence on people’s opinions and evaluations. Metaphor is especially useful for ideology by hiding or focusing attention on certain ideological aspects. In political discourse, metaphors used in fairy tale structure or „fair“ political myth narrative, which morally justifies the actions of politicians. According to it, we have chosen to analyze popular Russian-speaking media outlets – private Lithuanian newspaper „Obzor“ and Russian governmental newspaper „Rassijskaja gazeta“, which reflects official government ideology. The second part of the thesis provides results of the empirical analysis. Identified and grouped metaphorical expressions during period of 2014 of February 27th – March 19th in „Obzor“ and „Rassijskaja gazeta“ publicistic texts were distinguished into twelve conceptual metaphors. Summed up analysis results show that metaphorical representations of Crimea conflict parties in „Obzor“ and „Rassijskaja gazeta“ differs, so the thesis assumption that Lithuania media through conceptual metaphors of Crimea conflict parties narrative will reflect official Russian government ideology was not approved. Moreover, ideological differences of metaphorical representations of Crimea conflict parties in „Obzor“ and „Rassijskaja gazeta“ constitute two ideologically different fairytale structures or „fair“ political myth narratives, created by opposition. In the narrative of conceptual metaphors in „Obzor“ Lithuania was represented positively as hero – conceptual metaphor Lithuania – helper and fighter, Russia as negative villain – Russia – acting by force and person, influenced by V. Putin, EU as ally of hero which has negative connotations in EU – inaction. In the narrative of conceptual metaphors in „Rassijskaja gazeta“ Russia was represented as positive hero – conceptual metaphors Russia – observer and defender, EU as negative villain – EU – acting by force and loser, and cognitive incapacity / disability. In conceptual metaphors Crimea – part of Russia, Ukraine – object, Crimea has positive and Ukraine negative connotations. The metaphorical system was used purposely to highlight and openly legitimize Lithuania’s and Russia’s, as hero, ideological purpose and to fight for moral imperative