ECOLINGUISTIC CONSCIOUSNESS: FORMATION, DYNAMICS, AND AN INTERPRETATIVE MODEL

Abstract

The article is devoted to a theoretical and methodological reflection on the concept of ecolinguistic consciousness and to the development of an interpretative model for its analysis in media discourse. Within the framework of this study, ecolinguistic consciousness is conceptualized as a dynamic system of value-oriented linguistic patterns and cognitivepragmatic mechanisms of interpretation shaped by socio-cultural and media contexts and reflecting the level of ethical responsibility of the speaker in public communication. Particular attention is paid to the processes of formation, functioning, and transformation of ecolinguistic consciousness in contemporary German-language media, especially in the context of migration as a socially sensitive issue. The research is based on an interdisciplinary approach integrating cognitive linguistics, semantic theory, pragmalinguistics, sociolinguistics, and ecolinguistics. At the semantic level, metaphorical models of migration representation and their influence on interpretative framing are analyzed; at the cognitive level, frames structuring socially significant phenomena are examined; at the pragmatic level, communicative strategies of linguistic influence–including fear appeals, encouragement, and moral positioning–are identified; and at the sociolinguistic level, audience reactions in comment discourse and their dependence on specific types of media framing are considered. The empirical material consists of publications from leading German-language media outlets as well as examples of online discussions, serving an illustrative and analytical purpose and demonstrating the analytical potential of the proposed model. The findings outline the key vectors of the interpretative model of ecolinguistic consciousness and demonstrate the interrelation between linguistic choices, framing mechanisms, and the formation of evaluative attitudes among recipients. The study shows that media discourse not only reflects the existing level of ecolinguistic consciousness but also actively contributes to its transformation, fostering both the humanization of public communication and the intensification of polarizing tendencies. The proposed interpretative model may serve as an analytical tool for further empirical research in ecolinguistics and media linguistics.