Pragmatic Aspect of English Fake News Discourse

This article explores the pragmatic aspect of English fake news discourse as a communicative phenomenon aimed at disseminating false or misleading information to influence public opinion and shape specific outcomes. The English fake news discourse is characterized by fabricated or distorted facts, provocative headlines, and an emotional manipulation strategy designed to elicit targeted responses from readers. The study examines vital typological features, including sensationalist headlines, parameters of authorship and source, lack of facts and verified information, emotionally charged language, thematic eclecticism, and manipulative strategy implementation. Through these elements, fake news discourse fosters distrust within society and exploits its functional specificity to present itself as legitimate news while embedding disinformation. The article delves into this discourse's tactical aspects, particularly its manipulative strategy. The research focuses on core tactics in fake news discourse, which include the tactic of emotional appeal, the tactic of justification for the truthfulness of the narrative, the tactic of redirecting blame to others, the tactic of referencing authority, the tactic of indirect criticism, the tactic of providing inaccurate information, the tactic of hinting, the tactic of threats, and the tactic involving black humor. Each tactic is strategically chosen to exert a psychological impact, aiming to alter readers' perceptions and beliefs. The specific linguistic and stylistic means and devices that enhance the effectiveness of manipulation and influence within these tactics are revealed and analyzed.