German publicistic discourse: historical stages of its formation

this article is devoted to a comprehensive study of the causes and prerequisites for the multifaceted nature of German publicistic discourse from a diachronic perspective. The study covers the period from the 19th to the 21st centuries and is based on an analysis of materials from German newspapers and magazines of various subject areas. It is revealed that the linguistic diversity of German journalistic discourse (GJD) is determined by the interaction of cultural factors (the influence of intercultural communication), sociolinguistic factors (reflecting the peculiarities of communication in various social groups in Germany), and linguistic factors proper (intralinguistic changes determined by the functional needs of discourse). Empirical data demonstrate that speech activity in this communicative space is characterized by pronounced stratification conditioned by the historical, social, and cultural features of the development of German society, as well as by strict normative regulation implemented through the mechanisms of sociolinguistic and stylistic coding. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of linguistic means used to create expressiveness, persuasiveness, and influence on the audience in various historical periods. The results of the study can be used in the practice of teaching German, discourse theory, sociolinguistics, and cultural studies. The analysis revealed key trends in the evolution of public relations, such as the transition from the formal style of the 19th century to a more democratic and multimedia-enabled discourse in the 21st century, reflecting global sociocultural shifts. These findings highlight the importance of an interdisciplinary approach for further studying journalistic practices in the context of contemporary digital communication challenges.

linguistic variation, stylistic differentiation, cross-cultural communication, text linguistics, media rhetoric, professional vocabulary, lead article