Lexical and Semantic Markers in Extremist and Terrorist Religious Texts: Audio Recordings of ISIS* Members

The article describes the lexical and semantic features of religious texts of extremist and terrorist status. The research featured audio recordings of ISIS-Khorasan members. These texts contained linguistic means that assist in shaping and spreading the ideology of terrorism in religious discourse. The author designed an integrated approach to the analysis of the lexical and semantic structure of an extremist and terrorist religious text. It was the first-of-its-kind analysis of extremist vocabulary in Farsi and Dari, which opens up new counter-terrorism prospects. The lexical and semantic indicators of extremism were systematized based on their ideological conditionality, as well as specific evaluative and pragmatic orientation. The mechanisms included axiological inversion when an inherent negative connotation was transformed into an adherent positive one by sacralization or glorification. Another mechanism could be described as adherent negative labeling of neutral lexical units through dehumanization of ethnonyms or politonyms. Lexical units served as subjects and objects of terrorist action for mobilization and demonization. The list of manipulative linguistic strategies involved manipulating the lexical meaning, creating specific semantic fields, and using evaluative vocabulary. Such strategies lead to a distorted worldview that justifies violence and encourages radical identity. The abovementioned lexical and semantic indicators can be used to design new effective methods to counter extremist ideology.