“Literatura mirovoj revoljucii”, 7-8, 1932 - [S003]
Communicative Intention: Creation of the image of the Other as the "Enemy"
Utterance Aim: To arouse suspicion in the reader and cause him to distance himself from the concept described
Concrete Linguistic Means/Tool: Use of ironic inverted commas
Journal Title: "Literatura mirovoj revoljucii"
Journal Number: 7-8
Contexts & Examples: [...] популисты изволили снизойти к «низшим классам», но из-под популистского лака слишком явственно проглядывала фашистская дубинка. Пришлось искать чего-либо получше. Тогда буржуазные издатели принялись спонсировать «пролетарскую» литературу.
Edited by Svetlana Slavkova
The use of ironic inverted commas in these designations indicates that the author does not support these phenomena, or, at least, does not recognise them as acceptable. In our example, therefore, it is suggested to the reader that “proletarskaja” [proletarian] literature is not entirely, or at all, proletarian. This rhetorical device, i.e. the very frequent use of ironic inverted commas, attests both to a certain insecurity in naming choices and, at the same time, to an underlying aggressiveness, as doubt is consciously and strategically instilled in the reader. The intention is to draw him or her to “our” side, to push him or her to join US and become ONE of US. There is also an exalted tone and a desire to emphatically express one’s rejection of the concepts discussed and their characteristics.