Political, Military, Domestic Neologisms of the Russian-Ukrainian War (2014–2023)
Authors: Demіanenko Borys ,   Doctor of Political Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Politicals Sciences, Dean of the Socialpsychological Faculty, Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, Pereiaslav, Kyivregion, Ukraine, Demіanenko Vira ,   Candidate of Political Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Political Sciences, Hryhorii Skovoroda University in Pereiaslav, Pereiaslav, Kyivregion, Ukraine
Published: July 2024

This chapter explores the socio-psychological context of the emergence, essence, and features of active use of political, military, and domestic neologisms (newly formed words) as a natural psychological reaction (anger, contempt, despair, disgust, curses, horror, etc.) to the war as the worst social catastrophe in general and the atrocities of russian aggressors, occupiers, marauders, war criminals, in particular. General scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, systemic, dialectical, comparative analysis, logical, and historical methods were employed to identify and study neologisms. The behavioristic approach and the method of observing language material were actively used. The contextual analysis method facilitated the study of neologisms in their textual environment, contributing to a clearer delineation of their stylistic purpose and substantive content. It is noted that the active use of political, military, and everyday neologisms for the identification and naming of russian aggressors, the country of their presence, is an expression of an internal evaluative attitude of individuals towards the military aggression of the Russian Federation against the sovereign Ukrainian state, especially in the active phase of the war. The appearance of these neologisms has led to their rapid inclusion in the lexicon of politicians, journalists, military personnel, representatives of the expert community, and the everyday communication of ordinary citizens. The formation of a new official discourse on the definition of «ruscism» is stated. It is emphasized that the systematized and considered neologisms are justified when we assert that they refer specifically to russians, who, by being loyal or silent conformist masses to the authoritarian putinism regime, bear responsibility for what is happening in Ukraine. As the absolute majority of the population of the Russian Federation supports military aggression (the so-called «special military operation») against Ukraine or remains silent about it, they deserve condemnation, disgrace, and punishment. It is stated that the diversification of the Ukrainian language with negative connotations through political, military, and everyday neologisms is seen as emotional toning of language, which now transitions into the mode of «crazy Cossack sarcasm», waging war against the enemy not only on the battlefield with weapons but also with strong words. The opinion is expressed that the blurring of humanity facilitates our perception of aggression, combat actions, daily tragedy of human losses and destruction, and the active use of the described neologisms becomes a protective mechanism of our psyche. A change in the mode of expression is noted – from authoritarian pathos to free democratic expression.