THE COMMUNICATIONAL ASPECT OF POLISH POLITICAL DISCOURSE Cover Image

POLSKI DYSKURS POLITYCZNY W ASPEKCIE KOMUNIKACYJNYM
THE COMMUNICATIONAL ASPECT OF POLISH POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Author(s): Joanna Korzeniewska-Berczyńska
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla
Keywords: dyskurs polityczny1; transformacja ustrojowa2; komunikacyjny aspekt dyskursu politycznego3; zakłócenia aktów komunikacji4; debaty polityczne5; funkcje perswazyjna i ekspresywna dyskursu politycznego6; manipulacja werbalna7;

Summary/Abstract: It is common knowledge that a word helps a person not only perform benevolent actions but also behave disgracefully. This and other circumstances determine the process of sociopolitical transformations and the changes in the sphere of political discourse. It is worth focusing on the language of contemporary Polish politicians since many scientific researches indicate the differences between the language of the politicians representing the past times and the contemporary ones. Actually, an intriguing similarity to the newspeak of the times of the National Poland (about 1946–1989) can be observed. The research aims at disclosing the political communication during the hectic time of transformations. The verbal activities develop themselves according to the principles: The ends justify the means! Those who are not with us are against us!After 1989, Poland experiences a significant individualization of utterances on political topics. They can be characterized as being vivid, genuine and reliable. However, recently, the word has become the weapon of fight against dissidents while the political discourse started to be governed by lies, aggression and cynicism. The dialogue of hatred and dissociation from the “criminal communist past” is still going on. The solidarity of the opposition from Solidarity of the 80-ies turned out to be just an illusion while fanaticism of the former so called congenial colleagues evokes constant conflicts among them. Inappellable demagogy produced by the “followers of the only rightful teaching” is also observed alongside with the verbal reactions of those voicing their own opinion and disagreeing. Therefore, the article focuses on the analysis of “invective anthroponyms”, which reject the possibility of entering into a dialogue. In addition, the common usage of this means of separation reveals their users mentality. On the basis of the carried out analysis, several groups of such linguistic means were distinguished. “Ruthless discourse” is an essential obstacle to successful verbal communication; moreover, its addressers find themselves in the web of lies and aggression. Thus, the blurred borders between the good and bad evoke inaccuracy between the borders of values and antivalues. We have found ourselves living in the world of upside meanings and other anomalies, which have not gone to the past. Therefore, investigators will have to face a challenge of a thorough analysis of the so called democratic newspeak.

  • Issue Year: 2009
  • Issue No: 15 (20)
  • Page Range: 11-19
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Polish