Lost in Translation: Feminitives and gender-inclusive language in Zelenskyy’s speeches

Kalush Orchestra's Stefania represented Ukraine in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 and won. The video, filmed in Bucha, Hostomel, Irwin and Borodianka, features women soldiers carrying children out of bombed-out and burning buildings. Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses Ukrainian people almost every day. The transcripts of his videos are translated into English and Russian (just a fun … Continue reading Lost in Translation: Feminitives and gender-inclusive language in Zelenskyy’s speeches →

The “dirty bomb” and a typology of lies in Russian propaganda

Russian propaganda uses lies of different complexity. I discuss the most recent message by Shoigu and others about Ukraine's plans to use a "dirty bomb". This message is very worrying. It is also an interesting example of recursion, suggesting that the Russian propaganda is getting more and more sophisticated, perhaps to compensate for the lack of military successes.

Why does Putin avoid the pronoun “I”?

Russian version below. Русская версия внизу. Many people outside of Russia know what Putin says. Not many people know how he says it. But his way of speaking can reveal a lot about him and his strategies, so it’s definitely worth examining it closer. One well-known peculiarity of Putin’s speech is his avoidance of the … Continue reading Why does Putin avoid the pronoun “I”? →