LINGUO-PHILOSOPHY OF OBSCENE VOCABULARY IN THE INFORMATION SPACE OF WARTIME: BETWEEN NORM AND EXPRESSION

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the linguo-philosophical foundations of the functioning of substandard, in particular obscene, vocabulary in the information space of wartime. The focus of the study is the interaction between language norm and expression as a determinant of transformational processes in contemporary journalistic and literary discourse. The aim is to identify the semantic-pragmatic potential of obscene vocabulary, to determine its discursive roles, and to reveal its axiological load under conditions of social tension. Both general scientific and linguistic methods were employed to analyze obscene expressions. For the scientific interpretation of the empirical material, general methods such as observation of language data, analysis, and synthesis (for substantiating theoretical provisions) were applied. The descriptive method was used to systematize the empirical material; the functional-semantic method was applied to identify the semantic features of obscene units and determine their key semantic-pragmatic functions; discourse analysis made it possible to trace the specific features of the functioning of substandard vocabulary in literary and journalistic wartime discourse, as well as to outline its role in shaping communicative strategies and influencing the addressee; elements of the linguo-axiological approach were employed to interpret the value-related load of obscene vocabulary, analyze evaluative meanings, and examine the mechanisms of verbalizing the opposition ««us vs. them”. The research material consists of texts of contemporary Ukrainian literary and journalistic discourse from 2022 to early 2026. It has been established that, under wartime conditions, obscene vocabulary extends beyond a marginal linguistic layer and acquires the status of an important tool for expressing emotional experience, social evaluation, and collective identity. It has been demonstrated that obscene vocabulary performs a wide range of functions, including emotional-expressive, evaluative, identificational, manipulative, and cathartic. In journalistic discourse, it enhances the persuasive potential of texts, contributes to audience mobilization, and facilitates the delegitimization of the enemy, while in literary discourse it ensures psychological authenticity and stylistic expressiveness. The study confirms a partial transformation of language norms caused by increased tolerance toward expressively marked units in public communication. Substandard vocabulary thus emerges as an important cognitive-discursive mechanism for interpreting wartime reality, shaping value orientations, and maintaining collective resilience.