The Problem of Detecting Incitement in Extremist Content (Using Examples from the Internet)

Abstract

The article considers the characteristics of targeting when identifying the signs of incitement in extremist materials: in texts, commentaries to articles, videos, audios etc. on the Internet. The methods of linguistic analysis (lexical-semantic, stylistic analysis, semantic analysis, communicative-pragmatic analysis) were used in the study. As a result, the following forms of targeting expression in the aspect of linguistic signs of incitement were identified: 1) an appeal to a specific interlocutor (to a specific person, group of persons); 2) through the components of the communicative situation in general (focus on the mass, public addressee and even on the self which is transformed into a focus on the own group). Complicated cases of the implementation of the targeting category in texts with a pronounced or hidden language game are noted. The definition of the targeting category is shown to be an important component when identifying the linguistic signs of the “incitement” meaning, the speech (text) purpose depends on it. Targeting is closely related to the types of incitement: direct/indirect, explicit/implicit. To identify the linguistic features of the “incitement” meaning it is necessary to conduct a multidimensional analysis considering the general communicative situation, the category of targeting and its implementation in the statement.

Keywords

• forensic linguistics
• addressee
• semantic analysis
• internet-communication