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The Strategy of Solidarization as a Tool of Establishing Trusting Relationships in Gossip

https://doi.org/10.26907/3031-8751.2026.9.3.350-359

Abstract

The article is meant to analyze ways to establish a trusting relationship in gossip. The research focuses on the communicative strategy of solidarization, as well as ways of its implementation in speech which are communicative tactics. For each of the identified tactics, linguistic means and techniques of verbalization in English communication are determined. The tactic of clarifying common views is used to clarify the addressee's attitude towards the person being discussed, which allows to save face if opinions differ. For this purpose questions of a personal nature but de- void of an evaluative component are used. One of the ways to unite communicants is the tactic of creating a we-community. Its linguistic means include personal and possessive pronouns of the first person plural and lexemes with negative connotation to describe persons who are not part of the group. To support the narrator, the tactic of expressing consent can be used, which is verbalized with the help a number of lexemes, and at the syntactic level, rhetorical questions, repetitions, and sentence completion for the speaker. To mitigate harsh statements, the tactic of expressing a subjective opinion is used, which consists in using words with a broad common meaning, modal verbs and adverbs expressing uncertainty and tag-questions. Tactic of a joke supports the harmonious development of communication. Periphrasis, allusion, irony, and other techniques can be used to implement it.

About the Authors

I. N. Kabanova
Linguistics University of Nizhny Novgorod
Russian Federation

Kabanova Irina Nikolaevna – PhD in Philological Sciences, Associate Professor

Nizhny Novgorod



Yu. V. Kondyreva
Linguistics University of Nizhny Novgorod
Russian Federation

Kondyreva Yuliya Valerevna – postgraduate student

Nizhny Novgorod



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Review

For citations:


Kabanova I.N., Kondyreva Yu.V. The Strategy of Solidarization as a Tool of Establishing Trusting Relationships in Gossip. Kazan linguistic journal. 2026;9(3):350-359. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26907/3031-8751.2026.9.3.350-359

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ISSN 3033-8751 (Online)