Newspeak as a Discourse of Symbolic Violence

Abstract

This article explores the socio-philosophical concept of contemporary Newspeak through the lens of symbolic violence. It presents Newspeak as a synthesis of Internet language and ideological discourse. The constituent elements that define Newspeak are characterized, and the features that unify various institutional discourses are identified. As a significant component of symbolic space, Newspeak reflects contemporary tendencies towards both integration and disintegration within the framework of the oppositions Friend/Foe and We/They. It can simultaneously help unite people and divide them into groups, influence how people perceive themselves and others, reinforcing differences between “us” and “them”. The language used on the Internet, particularly within Runet has become a means of political or quasi-political expression for diverse actors. This article draws on concepts such as machine and assemblage (Gilles Deleuze, Bruno Latour), alongside with theories of symbolic violence (Pierre Bourdieu, Slavoj Žižek), and critical social philosophy, broadly contributed by Michel Foucault, the Frankfurt School, and Slavoj Zizek. Critical theory serves both a as common ground for these frameworks and as analytical lens through which to examine and critique Newspeak itself. Applying these theories to contemporary processes enables an understanding of societal transformations and offers a redefinition of key concepts such as power and violence, allowing for a comparative analysis between today's Newspeak and its totalitarian predecessor. The analysis employed logical-semantic and comparative methods, drawing examples of Newspeak from dictionaries, Internet commentaries, media opinions, and statements that bridge the online and offline cultural spaces.