Abstract
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has drawn widespread condemnations, criticisms, and reactions. While an infinitesimal figure has spoken in support of the invasion, most world leaders outrightly condemned the action of the Russian government led by Vladimir Putin who in the process of justifying his actions, claims that the reason for the invasion of Ukraine was pure to “de-nazify” the Ukrainian government policies. Ironically, Putin himself is a product of Nazism, a system of government that he strongly fought in his prime. Moreso, in the days of the USSR, the Russian government had been accused of the same offense the Russian government is accusing Ukraine of. This is therefore a clear case of linguistic labeling to justify an action carried out by a superior force. In this study, we apply the theoretical principles of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) in describing and interpreting the texts. The rationale for the choice of CDA is because research in CDA is often interested in the study of ideologically biased discourses, and the ways these polarize the representation of us (in groups) and them (outgroups). Both at the level of global and local meaning analysis. We thus often witness an overall strategy of `positive self-presentation and negative other presentation’, in which our good things and their bad things are emphasized, and our bad things and their good things are de-emphasized. In terms of the method of generating data, the data for the study were elicited from CNN and BBC websites. While working on “An Eco linguistic study of oil spillage in Ogoniland” Ebim (2016) opines that “… a good, sound, and logical research output should be governed by a well-defined research methodology based on scientific principles”. The study reveals cases of polarization, ideological projection, the deployment of linguistic resources in form of labeling to justify the actions of Putin over the Ukrainians. There is also the deliberate attempt to “annex” or “conquer” the less powerful using application of force through the policy of “imposition”.
Keywords: Putin, De-Nazification, Linguistic Resources, Russia, Invasion, Ukraine
