Russian Linguistic Bulletin (Apr 2020)
THE FIGURATIVE PORTRAIT OF PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA VLADIMIR PUTIN, CREATED BY THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE MASS MEDIA
Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of evaluative lexis used by the English-language mass media, The Economist journal in particular, while creating a figurative portrait of Russian President V. Putin. While the investigation, typical evaluative situations in which President of Russia is presented, were revealed as well as the relevant qualities of V. Putin, highlighted in the English-language mass media and forming his figurative portrait, were identified. Four thematic groups BELLIGERENT AND DANGEROUS, LEADER OF A WEAK COUNTRY, WEAK BUT PRETENDS TO BE STRONG, and CUNNING AND DECEIVING were formed. Nicknames given to Putin by the English-language mass media mostly have negative evaluative connotations or ironical implication. Nickname periphrasis both rational and figurative ones hyperbolize the traits of the figurative portrait of Russian President.
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