At the first stage of the research, we concentrated on forming meaning within processes of social interaction. The team focused on the main problem – to demonstrate and develop the idea that meaning has emerged due to the juxtaposition of linguistic and extralinguistic factors in communication. This required both a clarification of some theoretical concepts and a synchronic and diachronic consideration of specific forms of textualization and narrativization. The work was conducted in the following directions:
THE TEXTOCENTRIC SEMANTIC THEORY. CONTEXTUALISM. MEANING AS AN ACTIVITY
We developed the foundations of a semantic theory which emphasizing the social contexts of meaning-making practices. Its apparatus described both transformations of actional (behavioral) meanings into linguistic ones and the reverse process of representing textual structures in behavior patterns. As a development of this idea, we considered issues related to the linguistic manifestation of social meanings. The semantics of linguistic structures is generated as a dynamic context-dependent derivative from linguistic, social, cognitive, and referential characteristics. The dynamic approach allows describing an "ability" of an utterance to produce new meanings in the process of its generation and functioning. Semantic interpretation is not limited by operations on lexemes and sentences but is also based on conventional frames and social behavior patterns and interaction patterns. This approach allowed us to describe the processes of formation of semantic structures of the text as a whole - starting from the level of subtext structures - in their correlation with the compositions of meaning over the linguistic level:
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Intertextual ( set of texts)
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Pragma-semantic (set of communicative contexts associated with a given text)
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Extralinguistic structures of meaning (stratified domains of interpretation)
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Cognitive images (mental representations).
THE TEXT-ORIENTED SEMANTIC THEORY CONCERNING THE MAIN PARADIGMS OF LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE
The location of the proposed text-centered version of semantics within the central paradigms of linguistic knowledge can be identified as an intersection of anthropocentric and system-centered principles of language description. Based on the distinction made by E. Benveniste between recognizing and understanding a sign, one can describe the speaker's competences as knowing the primary meaning of the word, rules for changing meanings depending on intratextual or extralinguistic contexts, and an ability to understand — to determine the meaning of the given context. Under this approach, a text is considered as a holistic entity, endowed with a multidimensional heterogeneous semantic structure, diversity of languages of generation and interpretation, and context-sensitive communicative characteristics. Linguistic elements are identified concerning their function in text-structuring and comprehension. In addition to actional aspects based on L. Wittgenstein's pictorial theory with some of its J. Searle's revisions, we also consider representational characteristics reflecting the "Language-World" interaction. The concept of iconic (non-discrete) semiosis allows to clarify the notions of the semantics of the text - as a holistic sign, isomorphic to its signified.
STRATIFICATION SEMANTIC MODELS OF THE TEXT. "DEEP SEMIOTICS" AND "STERIOMETRIC SEMANTICS"
We identify the main levels (components) of the semantic structure of social experience (a form of a sign, objective and functional social meanings, evaluative and emotional meanings), their relationship, and dynamics in meaning formation and reflection were highlighted. The proposed conceptualization allows elaborating a fundamentally new concept of social semiotics ("deep semiotics"). It provides new possibilities for systematizing forms and methods of meaningful narration. The "stereometric" semantics is one of these possibilities, and it correlates descriptions with assessments, norms, and descriptions of states of affairs (possible worlds).
CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF A TEXT UNDER CONDITIONS OF COGNITIVE UNCERTAINTY
The process of constructing and reconstructing the meaning of ф text was described using the example of a political text, considered as a construct for the subject to designate its position in the political space, to provide a certain social effect for in different groups to mobilize collective will and action, as well as to represent the collective interest. It is demonstrated what a role situational factors playing in a situation of cognitive uncertainty, allowing participants of communication to identify a situation from the point of view of an appropriate logic, structuring the process of interpretation and reinterpretation of meaning is.
Constructing the text is shown as an active process of coordinating meanings of the text itself and its cultural, social, structural, pragmatic, political context. The role of dispositifs is studied, allowing to regulate cognitive uncertainty and determine the appropriate qualification order. The contours of further research on this process in various cases in order to establish more stringent quantified laws were outlined.
NARRATION AS A FACTOR OF MEANING FORMATION
We address the role of event narratives (including information wars) in the comprehension of reality, its recording and constructing. A model of event processes using the analysis of threshold values of an event function is proposed. The validation for semiotic instruments for the formation of narratives of historical memory and cultural identity was developed; text forms and value-normative systems defining the context of meaning formation are defined. Turning to the analysis of specific semantic narration cases in various practices of symbolic policy allowed us to propose a value-normative model for the thematization of narratives and factors of meaning formation (patterns, functors, operators) in textualization of historical memory and the formation of cultural identity.
POLITICAL DISCOURSE AS INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF PERFORMATIVE PRACTICES
The special attention was drawn to a multi-vector investigation of meaning production processes in social as a correlation of communicative, structural, and semantic characteristics, which is significant for political discourse.
6.1. Firstly, the distinction between the language of politics and language in political function was estimated. We demonstrate how language in the political function appears in the form of "speech-as-action". The addressee and the addressee and the communication itself are institutionalized, and real communication is formalized as its semiotic analog. At the same time, performing a role of a social institution, an addressee and/or an addressant are endowed with appropriate power to change the world, and performative becomes the primary act for initiating these processes. In general, a manifestation of a political function of language can be described as multiple occurrence and superposition in various sequences of the triad "(persuasion => influence) => action."
"DOUBLESPEAK" AS A PRAGMA-SEMIOTIC CHARACTERISTIC OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE
We reveal that doublethink ( in the Orwellian sense) is a hypertrophied development of essential semiotic characteristics of political discourse (multiple references, implicit modality, the domination of pragmatic factors over semantic ones, a combination of prescriptive and descriptive features). These features may be abused intentionally. Verification can be accomplished by changing the nature of secondary semiosis - replacing connotative operations with metalinguistic ones.
6.3. However, the intention of political discourse can also have the opposite effect and be intended on neutralizing performativity when a kind of "performative killing" takes place. Such practices of "How not to do things with the Word 'are described in the case of the Statements of the US presidents in the occasion of the Armenian genocide.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE SEMIOTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DISCOURSE IN MODERN POLITICAL COMMUNICATION
Based on the assumption that "a channel is a content," we consider such features of modern political communication that emerged due to new technologies and identify their influence on the content of public discourse, primarily in "authority -society" communication. The forms of pseudo-informing by authorities also have been changing. We also consider the transformations of public discourse and communicative failures of communicants caused by neglecting these changes.
PRAGMALINGUISTIC MECHANISMS OF SPEECH IMPACT IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE
The current socio-cultural situation provides a fertile ground for modulating the audience's ideological orientation markers, including the formation of the media image of the Other. From this point of view, the analysis of the media structure "Russia", which was made in the review of its representation in various discursive and national spaces, is particularly relevant.
Using the methods of socio-semiotic, functional-discursive, and pragmalinguistic analysis considering the example of representing Russia's image on the covers of Polish magazines, the mechanisms for playing case motifs, texts, and images in the implementation of the digital media presentation of the "threat" category were described. The models and functional characteristics of narrative and performative practices in political communication were clarified, the types and mechanisms of meaning formation and creation of imaginary realities were determined, the conditions, under which actualization of imaginary narrative models of reality becomes possible were defined, and also the mechanisms of constructing the image of the "other" were described through the category of mental insanity and linguistic absurdity.
MECHANISMS OF MEANING CREATION IN SOCIAL NETWORKS
In compliance with the analysis of the impact of new information technologies, the interfaces of the two most representative social networks Vkontakte and Facebook, were considered regarding creating and representing cultural meanings. In the first case, the interface reflects the traditional ideas built on rigid rules, permissions, and restrictions. In the second case, it is distinguished by ambiguity and the possibility of an unformatted nature of self-presentation.
The analysis of meaning-making mechanisms in the projection of network identities in modern digital space has become a significant trend. Network identity was defined as a set of textual and visual components of a person's digital image, with the help of which he builds his interaction on the Internet and which he constructs to position himself in society.
In the light of the provisions of social semiotics and pragmalinguistics, it was shown that categorization is directly related to the person's background knowledge, being the product of a dynamic cultural and axiological paradigm of society, changing under the influence of the socio-political context. Using the shock social advertising discourse as an example, the mechanisms and techniques for breaking stereotypes and social taboos in a new communicative paradigm were analyzed.
SEMANTICS AND PRAGMATICS OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL DISCOURSES AND PRACTICES IN THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
General theoretical provisions were approbated on historical subjects. At the same time, this analysis revealed the nature of the formation of the Russian social and political discourse and its transformations, especially in crisis circumstances (achieving consensus or, on the contrary, creating confrontational discourses and practices).
The situation of the Balkan crisis of 1875 - 1876 and the Russian-Turkish war of 1877 - 1878 in the reflection of different political groups and trends in Russian society became the central case for consideration. A review of positions on the Balkan issue in Slavophile, liberal, populist, and conservative journalism of 1875-78 was carried out. The analysis of modification of strategies affecting public opinion of main political groups and achievement of consensus in the Balkan crisis and Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 was carried out. Analysis of textual and visual sources allowed to identify common key lexicon for all main groups which appealing to concepts of "freedom", "liberation" and actively using the dichotomies: "civilization"/"barbarism," "west"/"east," etc. The idealistic journalism of the first decade of the 20th century was also considered from the point of view of processes of meaning-formation and narrative strategies. We investigate its radical and conservative wings and, as a result,/ the emerging of the conservative-liberal agenda of the turn of 1900s-1910s («Vekhi," "Milestones")
The results 1) 26 articles were published ( six are indexed in WoS - Scopus databases), seven articles are accepted for publication and to l be published during 2019 ( ( 3 - of which they are indexed in WoS - Scopus databases) 2) presented and approbated at representative international conferences (25 reports).