Linguistic Personality Transformation in Speech Reproduction

Abstract

A linguistic personality is capable of transforming consciously and unconsciously under the influence of a number of factors and it can change qualitatively, including turning from a strong and average into a weak linguistic personality, moving to a lower, presystemic semantic-structural level. Among such factors, various influences in religious organizations play an important role. The relevance of the proposed article on the one hand, is due to the active use of “speaking in tongues” by believers in a number of religious organizations, and on the other hand, to the lack of an unambiguous understanding of this phenomenon and its impact on people, the lack of linguistic studies of such speaking. The purpose of the research conducted in the article is to identify the essence, goals and consequences of such a phenomenon as “speaking in tongues”, which is practiced in particular by adherents of the Pentecostal religious organization “Bethany” and compare these parameters with what is promoted. There is a reason to imply some difference between the interpretations. The definition of the so called “angelic languages”, which the Bethanyians consider to be real, serving communication, leads to the conclusion that its use puts a person into a trance, plunges into an altered state of consciousness, deprives the ability to reflect. This is indicated by certain lexical and syntactic means found in the statements of Pentecostals, including adherents of Bethany, analysis of videos and texts posted on the websites of these religious organizations. The article examines the religious origins “speaking in tongues”, modern interpretations of this phenomenon by believers, reveals the distortion of the concept of “speaking in tongues” by Pentecostals and adherents of Bethany, unfolds the means of manipulating believers in explaining the phenomenon of glossolalia (e.g., interpretation of religious texts, manipulation of numbers, affecting the emotions and feelings of believers, sometimes odd explanations). Subsequently, the authors come to the conclusion that in some cases Bethany representatives deliberately build their speech communication to immerse the flock as often as possible in a state of altered consciousness, affect, ecstasy, when a person renounces reality, becomes unable to answer for his words and actions. Then people might become vulnerable to the necessary suggestion.

Keywords

• linguistic personality
• speech influence
• speaking in tongues
• angelic languages
• altered state of consciousness
• pentecostals