AXIOLOGEMES IN DEFENSE VS PROSECUTION ENGLISH COURT DISCOURSE

Abstract

The notion of axiological dimension of texts of English court discourse is researched in the paper. The interdisciplinarity of scientific knowledge has expanded the problem field of the humanities themselves and has led to the need for a new philosophical approach to Language. Therefore, the mutual influence of philosophical disciplines and linguistic disciplines in contemporary humanities discourse is justified in this situation. The central concept of axiology is the concept of value, interpreted from the perspective of psychology, sociology, logic, structuralism, phenomenology, existentialism, hermeneutics, and theology. The interpretation of the concept, the attitude to value as a subjective or objective phenomenon, brings together and at the same time alienates the representatives of different sciences. The author deals separately with axiologemes in the discourse of the defense and prosecution and their role in the organisation of the semantic space of the English court discourse. Anti-axiologemes in the discourse of the defense and in the discourse of the prosecution have been identified. The relevance of the article is due to the dearth of research and lack in-depth analysis done on the subject in the context of constant confrontation in the modern information space. Confrontation can be observed at all levels and in all spheres of human life, including judicial activities. The research is carried out at the intersection of several scientific and linguistic paradigms: communicative, cognitive, pragmatic and linguocultural. The logic of the development of these directions of modern linguistic science determined the novelty of this study. In this article, the author in detail describes the process of formation of axiological science. The views of leading scientists dealing with axiology are carefully analysed. The main stages of axiological knowledge development are defined. Considerable attention is given to the applied nature of axiological research. The following goals have been set: to grasp the way of formation of modern axiology, to identify axiologemes and anti-axiologemes that are characteristic of the English court discourse; to characterise their influence on the organisation of the semantic space of texts of court discourse. The analysis of the factual material regarding axiologemes and antiaxiologemes of the English court discourse has resulted in identifying their role in the organisation of the semantic space of the court discourse. Mention should be made of the following methods that were used here to achieve the aim: linguistic observation and analysis, as well as cognitive method, critical discourse analysis method, pragmatic analysis method. Thus, axiologemes in English court discourse are based on fundamental American values. They are represented by such thematic groups as �The value of human life�, �Civic virtues�, �American dream�, �Equality of all before Law� and �The rule of Law�. As well as legal axiologemes: �Proving beyond a reasonable doubt�, �Difficult life situation�, �Tragedy�. Anti-axiologemes in English court discourse are represented by the following thematic groups: �Murder�, �Vicious lifestyle�, �Double life�, �Interest in serial killers�, and �Addictions�. The practical significance of the research lies in the possibility to use its provisions and conclusions, factual material in the study of communicativistics, psycholinguistics, discourse analysis, in the practice of translation, linguistics and area studies, in the course of legal writing, oratory art. The theoretical significance of the research lies in the fact that a comparative review of axiologemes and anti-axiologemes used in the discourse of the prosecution and in the discourse of the defense has beenf first introduced.