FUNCTIONS OF CRIMINOLOGICAL TERMINOLOGY IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWS OF BBC WORLD SERVICE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2410-0927-2025-23-11Keywords:
criminological terminology, internet resource, legal culture, journalistic standards, news contentAbstract
The study aims to identify the specificity of using criminological terminology in the English language content of Crime BBB News, distinguish between thematic groups of terms and terminological collocations, and define their functions in shaping readers’ notions of the criminal justice system. To identify the research subject, the continuous sampling method was applied to the text material of Crime BBB News for 2025. The methodological foundation of the research was the scientific essay by J. R. Wilson that employs a philological and philosophical approach to determining the semantic volume of the «criminology» concept and proposes its expanded definition as an interdisciplinary and intermediary notion. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that it reveals those aspects of criminological terminology that have not been thoroughly examined in linguistic studies, particularly its role in shaping the legal culture of Crime BBB News readers. The continuous sampling method enabled us to distinguish between еру four largest thematic groups of criminological terms denoting: 1) types of offences/crimes; 2) institutions and officials in the law enforcement system; 3) law enforcement measures and types of punishment; 4) individuals involved in a crime, both victims and criminals. The high frequency of criminological terminology used and its diversity allow for drawing some conclusions about the journalistic strategies employed by the authors. The delivery of news about crimes in the world on the Crime BBC News website is aimed more at developing citizens’ legal culture than at informing them and evoking their emotional response. News readers’ knowledge of narrow-field terminology contributes to shaping their notions of criminal justice system, including regulations that define an act as criminal, institutions and officials involved in criminal procedures, the specifics of bringing to justice, and measures provided for by laws to protect citizens’ rights and freedoms.
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