Linguo-cognitive modeling of the category "discourse participant" (based on corpora of internet-memes of professional communities of lawyers in social networks)

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify semantic models of humorous utterances that express the stereotypical ideas of the lawyers’ professional community about the content of the categories of its participants in informal settings. The research methodology integrates two approaches: a critical analysis of discourse and a semantic approach to humour based on scripts by Salvatore Attardo and Victor Raskin. We applied the following analysis model: (1) discursive analysis of texts in accordance with the procedure presented in the papers of foreign and Russian scholars; (2) analysis of humour in accordance with the six-level model of analysis proposed by Attardo; (3) as the research includes transformed statements consisting of a complex of elements and their interrelationships to varying degrees, the methodology is supplemented by the theory of conceptual integration developed by Gilles Fauconnier and Mark Turner. The research methods are: discourse analysis, including standard techniques of communicative-pragmatic and semantic analysis; content analysis, the semantic categories of which are the parameters of the sociocommunicative level of the model, and the units are their typical lexical markers. The data include Internet memes constituting the content of professional legal groups on the social networks Instagram and Facebook. The data include 260 units. The analysis revealed a quantitative predominance in Internet memes expressing the subjects of legal discourse of models based on contrast and referential humour. The semantic dominants actualised in such models coincide with the stereotypical attitudes currently existing in society in relation to the legal community and its professional participants. The uneven distribution of models in accordance with the categories of participants indicates the predominance of reflection in relation to several professional participants – an advocate and a lawyer: intensity of professional activity and high fatigue, prestige of professional status and high social responsibility of professional participants, competence and professionalism (unprofessionalism), complexity and incomprehensibility of the language, high profit. In relation to non-professional participants (client/ accused/ defendant/ respondent/ witness), the stereotypes about their stupidity, greed, arrogance, venality are replicated. Referential models are distinguished by the diversity of the subjects represented and the uniformity of the meanings expressed: the subject’s originality of thinking, cunningness and resourcefulness. Semantic models based on conceptual integration were identified only in relation to professional participants – a lawyer. They actualise such values as professionalism, reliability, competence; stress associated with responsibility at work, danger and charm of the profession, special status; superiority; friendliness; help and superpowers of the professional.