Media linguistics in Germany

Abstract

Considerations of linguistic perspectives in the functioning of the text forms and ways, in which they are interpreted in the media, leads to the study of numerous media phenomena in the print and electronic media. All of them leave “footprints” in different formats of communicative behavior, reflect actions of social subsystems (publishing houses, search engines, radio and television corporations etc.), which determine the essence of media communication. It is the media speech that becomes the study subject in media linguistics. Media linguistics is a relatively young linguistic discipline that is concerned with the use of language in mass media communication. Media linguistics is placed at the intersection of linguistics and media, reflects a wide dynamic in information transmission and in speech. The current state of media linguistics in Germany reflects the mentioned trend both in the context of the language actualization and in the definitions of dramatization and strategic actions of actors by the representation of reality. The role and place of the mass media in the construction of socially relevant discourses is particularly shown in the review. The modern development of media linguistics in Germany is occurring against the backdrop of active study of the forms and functions in media communication in general and in media genres in particular. In recent years the development of media linguistics in the German-speaking media space is characterized by a variety of research approaches both in the theoretical and practical aspects and offers an objective field for research. The study of media products that are realized in the press, on radio, television, etc. determines new technological concepts of media linguistics as an independent scientific space. Obviously, its complete study requires a “sample” analysis of a wide range of media genres and media formats. Therefore, the system picture of mass media communication, including “new” media, needs a deep analysis of fundamental patterns in media linguistics and non-linguistic mechanisms — media reception and media persuasion.