Folklorized Small Communicative Forms in the Russo-Ukrainian War

• In Event: Ukrainian Folklore, Past and Present: Interpretation, Adaptation, Resistance

Abstract

This paper explores slogans as folklorized communicative forms that have emerged in online discourse and media during the Russian-Ukrainian war. These slogans, categorized as part of the folklore of resistance, serve the following key functions: fostering unity among civilians, strengthening the bond between the nation and its military, and conveying powerful messages that reinforce Ukraine’s resilience, commitment to freedom, and dedication to democratic values on the global stage. A thematic classification of these slogans reveals their semantic and emotional-psychological significance. They fall into distinct categories, including slogans of praise and greeting, humorous slogans, expressions of gratitude, declarative statements, oaths, commands, threats, requests, and invective slogans. The paper suggests that slogans, as a form of popular expression, have long been a consistent tool of communication in struggles for independence, political upheavals, and military conflicts, continuing their role as both a unifying force and a means of resistance.

Author

• Nataliia Saltovska