Representation of socio-culture in German-language texts of journalistic discourse

doi:10.26565/2786-5312-2026-103-06

Lіdiіa Pikhtovnikova Full Professor at Department of Romano-Germanic Philology, Deputy Dean for Research, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Full Professor at Department of Oriental Languages and Intercultural Communication, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1830-0653
Nataliia Onishchenko Associate Professor at Department of Romano-Germanic Philology School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9387-4991
Serhii Kryvoruchko Associate Professor at Department of Romano-Germanic Philology, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7575-1843
Valeriia Kovalenko Lecturer at Department of Business Foreign Language and Translation, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6950-1359

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/2786-5312-2026-103-06

Keywords: article, concept, cultural code, frame analysis, German language text, journalistic discourse, linguistic-stylistic interpretation of the text, media, reportage, socioculture, sociolinguistics, tabular frame

Abstract

The article explores how socioculture is reflected in the texts of modern journalistic discourse. The research material is an article „Wolodymyr Selensky: Der volksnahe Millionär“ and a reportage „Als wäre der Krieg nur ein Spiel“ from popular German-language online media. Media texts, as the main instruments of information dissemination, value transmission, and ideology formation, serve as significant carriers of sociocultural meanings – not only within a single country but also beyond its borders. The aim of the study is to identify and systematize sociocultural elements that are realized through linguistic, stylistic, and conceptual means in contemporary German-language journalism.

The methodological basis of the research is the scheme of linguistic-stylistic analysis proposed by L. Pikhtovnikova, adapted for the study of journalistic discourse. The study applies a combination of methods: discourse analysis, linguistic-stylistic and semiotic analysis, frame modelling of concepts, and elements of content analysis. Special attention is given to identifying cultural codes (somatic, spatial, temporal, material, biomorphic, and spiritual) that structure the journalistic text and reflect the society’s mental, moral, and axiological orientations.

The analysis shows that the selected article represents the sociocultural image of the new Ukrainian political elite, which combines national authenticity, democracy, and European values. The reportage reveals the spiritual and psychological dimension of socioculture in wartime conditions – depicting the struggle for freedom, national dignity, and human solidarity. Both texts demonstrate that journalistic discourse not only records socio-cultural reality but also actively shapes it, combining informative, axiological, and culture-creating functions.

The findings confirm the relevance of applying a linguocultural approach to media text analysis and open up prospects for further research on sociocultural mechanisms in the genres of modern journalism.

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Author Biographies

Lіdiіa Pikhtovnikova , Full Professor at Department of Romano-Germanic Philology, Deputy Dean for Research, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Full Professor at Department of Oriental Languages and Intercultural Communication, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

Doctor of Philology

Nataliia Onishchenko , Associate Professor at Department of Romano-Germanic Philology School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

PhD, Deputy Dean for Research, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

Serhii Kryvoruchko , Associate Professor at Department of Romano-Germanic Philology, School of Foreign Languages of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University

PhD

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ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL

DER SPIEGEL. Politik. Unterwegs mit Navid Kermani. Als wäre der Krieg nur ein Spiel. 28.10.2016. https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/mitten-durch-die-ukraine-reisetagebuch-von-navid-kermani-a-1118206.html

Süddeutsche Zeitung. Wolodymyr Selensky: Der volksnahe Millionär. 21. April 2019. https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/ukraine-wahl-ergebnis-wolodymyr-selensky-1.4416812