Konstantin Tarasov1; 1 independant scholar, Russian Federation
Discussion
The socio-political upheavals following the fall of the monarchy in 1917 brought a wave of new words and expressions into the language of the Russian citizens. During the first months after February, explanatory dictionaries appeared, clarifying new political terms. These terms evolved in both official discourse and daily language, reflecting the shifting meanings within the new socio-political landscape. In my presentation, I will talk about the main approaches to studying political language, from early purely linguistic ones to modern ones using the methods of digital humanities. I will also offer my thoughts on how language studies can be useful. By analysing concepts, expressions, and metaphors of 1917, I will argue that these linguistic elements reveal the complex and often polarized social realities of the era. They illustrate the cultural divisions that foreshadowed the outbreak of civil war, highlighting how language served both as a reflection and as a tool of the revolutionary struggle. This presentation will demonstrate how studying these linguistic shifts can enhance our understanding of social and political dynamics during periods of profound change.
