Linguistic expertise of information support of elections (based on the presidential campaign of 2018)

Abstract

The article has an introductory character: it gives a generalized characteristic of linguistic expertise as a procedure of applied linguistics in Russian law enforcement, as a special kind in the class of forensic speech examinations. The specific object of the analysis was the applicability of linguistic expertise of election information support: voter information and election campaigning. The steel material of the electoral disputes in the campaign for the election of the President of the Russian Federation in 2018, the Specificity of linguistic expertise is seen in its hermeneutic character. Describes the range of theoretical bases — from such Russian scientific disciplines, as linguistic criminalistics, legal linguistics to forensic speech studies and linguistic expertology. Briefly analyzed the conditions of the examination and its procedural and at the same time genre varieties in forensic investigations and information disputes, including electoral. The boundaries of expert competence are indicated. The function of expertise in the resolution of linguistic and legal conflicts and at the same time its conflictogenicity is noted, which is due not only to its “double” subordination: the creation of law enforcement structures at the request, but also to the norms of scientific ethos, but also to the incoming circumstances, including administrative pressure. Describes the history lingvoexpert study of the electoral process, starting in 2003, Specified varieties of speech torts, it is possible in the electoral communication: illegal campaigning, insults, extremist statements; the marked “grey zone” — the lack of distinction between public awareness and electorate campaigning, including presentations, events, streaming movies, etc. Identified the specific hermeneutic mechanism of discretion, which allows law enforcement authorities independently, without recourse to linguistic experts, to characterize a discursive phenomenon and to issue verdicts. The author came to a conclusion about the presence in the linguistic expertise of such type as the expertise of information support of elections, stated the low level of its development against the background of other types and expressed confidence that it will be in demand, and it will form its standard algorithms of analysis, its terminology and questionnaire. The article is a sketch of the contentious electoral communication as a segment of discourse, performed through the prism of linguoexpertology.