О СУЩНОСТИ, ОСОБЕННОСТЯХ И ГРАНИЦАХ АГРЕССИВНОГО И КОНФЛИКТНОГО ДИСКУРСА

The paper attempts to classify expressions of criticism and disapproval as
belonging to a certain type of discourse. In this regard the essence, specificities and the limits of aggressive/ conflict discourse are explored. The selection of working definitions of such concepts as discourse, a communicative strategy and speech aggression actualizing relevant to the study characteristic is substantiated in the paper.
While acknowledging strong conflict potential of negative/adversary value
judgments in communication, and realizing that expressing criticism and
disapproval often results in disturbed interpersonal relationships, the author points out that no means all expressions of criticism and disapproval can be classified as speech aggression. The paper identifies the key feature of speech aggression.
Disharmonization of interpersonal relationships is regarded by the author as a
systemically important indicator of confrontational speech behavior, a strategy
of communication an individual may deliberately take with the aim of escalating existing contradictions (either real or imaginary).
Thus, the paper makes a conclusion that aggressive discourse is a particular
case of a broader phenomenon which may be defined as confrontational discourse.
It is also observed that in research which isn’t aimed at classifying and
discriminating different discourse types the terms aggressive and confrontational may be used as equivalents.
The author also highlights that modification of an utterance force, a speaker’s
attempts to make critical and unapproving judgments less categorical are often a failure because of their high confrontational potential.