Precedent names from source domain Music in UK mass media discourse

Abstract

The paper deals with precedent names derived from source domain “Music” in the modern media discourse in the UK. The data of research include list of 300 precedent names used in the British media (BBC, The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, The Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent) in 2010-2020. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the lingvocultural analysis and cognitive analysis of discourse (cognitive-discursive paradigm). Five main methods of studying precedent names in media discourse are highlighted (method of analyzing single precedent names; method of studying precedent names, united by the source domain; method of studying precedent names, united by the target domain; method of functional analysis of precedent names; method of studying precedent names, united by discourse). In accordance with the research goal, this study uses the method of studying precedent names, united by the source domain, in a certain national discourse. Based on the analysis of practical material, it was concluded that (1) the specificity of the source domain determines the discursive features of the functioning of precedent names in media discourse; (2) the peculiarity of the functioning of precedent names from the considered source domain in the British media discourse is that journalists give preference to the onyms of American and British musical performers, which is due to the dominance of English-language music in world popular culture, while the dominant place is given to rock music performers, which is also due to cultural factors (3) precedent names from the source domain “Music” are used in the UK media discourse as universal signs, the use of which is not limited to musical topics in the target domain. Although most of the contexts in which precedent names are actualized are associated with music, the onyms under consideration can be used to conceptualize phenomena from other spheres of social reality (sports, fashion, terrorism, etc.).