Ukrainian Digital Political Discourse Emotionality Analysis During the Full-Scale Russian Invasion (On the Basis of the Most Popular Telegram Channels)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31558/2519-2949.2022.2.7Keywords:
emotionality, Telegram, political discourse, war, Ukraine, RussiaAbstract
The analysis of emotional reactions of the most popular Telegram channels from the category (News and Media) is conducted in the paper. Period: two months since the full-scale Russian invasion were taken into account. The paper’s aim is to define and to interpret the Ukrainian Telegram-channels’ leading emotions and to observe the most popular reactions’ dynamics. A computer program (Python language) was designed for this objective. The program collected all the text items from the Telegram-channels, looked for the emoji and calculated its’ number. It was defined, that for the observation period mostly positive emotions prevailed: pride, delight, gratitude. Telegram-channels, which aren’t owned by the traditional mass media additionally used humor, sarcastic laughter at the enemy, irony. The emotionality dynamics analysis of ‘Ukraina Sejchas’ Telegram channel shown, that at the beginning the first phase of the war the reactions usage was more restrained. Afterwards, at the end of the first phase the number increased and decreased before the battle for Donbas. The periodization of the emotional reactions was created. Two weeks after the full-scaled Russian invasion gratitude and delight towards the defenders were the most popular. Afterwards the period of laughter, irony, sarcasm over the enemy was observed. In April, in anticipation of the battle for Donbas again gratitude and delight prevailed. And since 15th of April proud and strength dominated.
The reactions usage analysis of the most popular Ukrainian Telegram-channels shown, that in Ukrainian digital political discourse the positive reactions prevailed mostly. Negative reactions were observed not so often. There were anger or irritation. Horror, fear, and sadness were mentioned rarely despite the style of Russian behavior on the battlefields, when attacks on civilians are held, terror and intimidation are used as instruments of the war. Thus, on the emotional level Ukrainian society resisted the invasion, demonstrated confidence and strength.
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