=Paper=
{{Paper
|id=Vol-2386/paper14
|storemode=property
|title=Linguistic Traces of Psychological Manipulations in Discussions of Wikipedia Talk Pages
|pdfUrl=https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2386/paper14.pdf
|volume=Vol-2386
|authors=Solomiia Albota,Andriy Peleshchyshyn,Dmytro Dosyn
|dblpUrl=https://dblp.org/rec/conf/momlet/AlbotaPD19
}}
==Linguistic Traces of Psychological Manipulations in Discussions of Wikipedia Talk Pages==
https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-2386/paper14.pdf
Linguistic Traces of Psychological Manipulations in
Discussions of Wikipedia Talk Pages
Solomiia Albota[0000-0002-0927-1179], Andriy Peleshchyshyn[0000-0002-5022-0410],
Dmytro Dosyn[0000-0003-4040-4467]
Lviv Polytechnic National University
andrii.m.peleshchyshyn@lpnu.ua, solomiia.m.albota@lpnu.ua
Abstract. The paper deals with the symbiosis of linguistic, psychological and media-text
discourse analyses in order to reveal linguistic manipulation in the Wikipedia Talk Page
“Media Manipulation”. A variety of manipulative techniques and their linguistic interpretation
has been considered. The frequency of occurrence of specific linguistic units has been
estimated. The generalized sequence of manipulations concerning the most heated conversation
has been provided. The sequence has been represented by 14 oppositions of the most concerned
users. Implicit and explicit forms of manipulations using a range of linguistic, media-discourse
markers as well as psychological insights and manipulative techniques have been revealed.
Linguistic traces of psychological manipulations have been treated as an attempt to formalize
the process of manipulative influences.
Keywords: Wiki Talk Page, Linguistic Devices, Discourse Marker, Mass
Media, Psychological Manipulation, Opposition.
1 Introduction
What is worth nowadays – to be aware of accurate, up-to-date information and be
able to process it beneficially for you using linguistic and psychological techniques.
The easiest way to obtain a certain necessary result is to influence masses. Collective
consciousness is subjected to the most primitive forms of behavior, e.g. imitation,
replication. They are due to the multilevel adjustment – massive empathy. There are
two forms concerning the linguistic impact on the collective consciousness: open and
hidden. The last one has gained relevance and popularity over the last decades. The
most effective type of hidden impact on public consciousness is linguistic
manipulation: manipulation impact is one of the most important mass media functions
along with informative, educational and advertising functions. It is a hidden linguistic
impact on the recipient, intentionally misinforming it in relation to the idea or content
of the speech, performed at three levels: individual, group and mass [1].
2 Related Works
While generating a text, those creating manipulation discourse usually prefer the
most semantically neutral words. However, even they may perform the role of impact
– in an explicit or implicit representation, followed by a variety of discourse markers
relevant to discourse analysis, linguistic and psychological techniques [2]. Discourse
analysis is used for discovering how people interact using language, as in
written form as spoken way; it observes the way how the conversation keeps going
engaging a speaker and listener [3]. Within discourse, the conversation context is
taken into account. It involves the fact where people are speaking. Moreover, it ranges
from a social and cultural framework to body language, images and symbols.
We have chosen the rubric “Media Manipulation” in the following Wikipedia Talk
Page [10] due to intensification of the impact function, found in modern mass media.
3 Methodology and Research
The Wikipedia Talk page entitled “Media manipulation” serves as an example of a
constructive dialogue between two users concerned in that branch, judging from the
nature of their statements. The first striking mechanism while analyzing discussion,
utterances, statements, etc. is their psychological perception and further linguistic
interpretation. The aim of the paper is using the basic NLP techniques mentioned in
[4-6] to provide a thorough linguistic discourse analysis, psychological analysis and
analysis of media-texts of the above article concerning the media manipulation
insights as one of the most tackling issues in linguistic manipulation topics.
The synergy of the methods of textual and discourse-analysis [7, 8], psychological
analysis and analysis of media texts [9] allows to reveal implicit or explicit, i.e.
hidden or open forms of manipulation using the process of linguistic realization:
The following analysis is represented in a narrative way as the interpretation method
of discourse analysis is a paramount one when dealing with a textual research. There
are seven sections in the Wiki talk page under the rubric “Media Manipulation”. The
most heated discussion is the fifth section concerning manipulation between two users
Andrewaskew and Korny O’Near, dialogues of which we divide into 14 Oppositions
(Table 1), as most of the time they argue: whether the text of the article is
manipulative, using rhetoric and rhetorical devices, or is merely opinion-oriented.
Here, original-sized quotations are provided, as the topic is related to the theoretical
manipulative issues mentioned above. Further sections are neglected as the degree of
analysis intense is reduced, although they have been interpreted as well.
Heated discussion is about the agreement on how to reveal manipulation under
section “Rhetoric and opinion are not media manipulation”. Here, let us conduct all
possible lingual semantic and psychological analyses.
Opposition 1. In the beginning of the dialogue between two users Korny O’Near and
Andrewaskew, who are aware of manipulation techniques (as seen from the
conversation), there are markers of rough perception of the nature of dialogue: “a bit
of a mess”, “puts forward logical misconceptions”, “suggests true and objective
samples”, “samples of speech and thoughts, not manipulation concerning news, radio
and television” [10]. Suggestion to deliver more expressive examples of manipulation
is followed by discourse marker “I think”, advisory markers “have to be altered or
eliminated”, “ought to be concentrated on genuine deceptions”, “aren’t there better
examples” [10]. There are some examples, which allow to contrast “expressing his
opinion” with “undeniable case of media manipulation”, and “similarly”, “doesn’t
seem like media manipulation either” [10] with “expressing its opinion” [10].
Another user contradicts: “Oratory and its tools serve the best samples of media
manipulation” [10]. It means that all these discourse markers mentioned above,
whether it is an opinion, or justified opinion, i.e. manipulation, tend to reveal media
manipulation.
There is a controversial issue concerning “manipulation of media” and
“manipulation by media”. The author’s suggestions are explicated in: “want us to
entirely focus on”, “have to follow the definitions”, “might, if you were so apt,
dispute over a segmentation” [10]. Then follow discourse markers of uncertainty:
“IMHO”, “division is not clear enough”, “would become confused”, “would be happy
to be proven wrong” [10].
The comment concerning the suggestion to provide more examples is provided with a
range of cautious markers: “As to your specific questions”, “Be careful though”,
“suffered from too many examples”. Still, there is a helpful suggestion with advisory
markers: “wish to improve this page”, “happy to support and assist your efforts”,
“let's make sure we know what we're working towards” [10].
Opposition 2. The reaction of the other user is triggered with a discourse marker
“well”, probable explanation of “specific examples” of manipulation – “could
concentrate on one, as greater part of samples is inclined to the same class” [10] – as
the underlined markers define uncertainty, probability.
Korny O’Near still offers resistance to Andrewaskew, as he repeats his example,
extends it, and directly addresses the user with an aim to persuade him in his
wrongness: “How can it be”, “create control in terms of news, radio and television”,
“as disputed”, “simply someone stating his or her thought” [10].
Andrewaskew protests in an explanatory way: “This is an example of”, “a
hypothetical example”, convincing in conclusion that rhetoric is “as a thought as an
efficient tool”.
Opposition 3. Korny O’Near advocates his statement using different lingual devices:
“It says a lot concerning the announcer, doesn’t it?”, “Couldn't that be the person is
just expressing his or her thoughts?” [10]. For clarifying and justification “not
hypothetical - it's a real quote”.
The opposite opinion still dominates: “not necessary to assume anything”. The
repetitiveness “not to assume that” (2 times of occurrence) proves that this is a way of
using rhetorical devices in order to put an emphasis on his own assertiveness. What is
more, the second time in a row Andrewaskew uses an idiom “issue at hand” in order
to eliminate the tension of conversation. He, also, assumes the probability of the
statement to be just an opinion: “can express thoughts”, “can suppose that a thought is
appropriate” [10]. But demonstrative marker “the point is” [10] is used to persuade
and advocate his position: “comment reaches controlling edge of speech”, “alters
news and publishing as well as socium when rough information can’t do that” [10].
He uses paraphrasing to make it sound more convincing: “Such lingual and
psychological tool is mentioned within this page” [10]. And turning back to the
credibility of the example, the user agrees that Korny O’Near has right: “Yes”, “am
aware”, “a true sample with a true citing” [10]. Although he insists on another
interpretation of that example: “Although it is considered to be an analytical trend”,
“specifics matter less than their interpretation” [10].
Opposition 4. Korny O’Near sounds sharply with unacceptance: “seems rather
broad”, “any sample of a thought being mentioned in media which wouldn’t be taken
as the one of it?” [10], as she is trying to find a common way to classify opinion and
manipulations. Providing a dull example, the user is trying to provoke Andrewaskew:
““He likes cream” means “transmit”, contraction or kind of?” [10].
But cool mind and righteousness of another user smoothens the situation: “No, I fail
to see”, and, at the same time does not lead to its closeness, he instead being assertive:
“Can you explain?”. His next three questions refer to a bright example of poaching
the user to his manner. Using an implicit comparison of manipulation with “a sliding
scale” Andrewaskew tries to persuade another user in absolute absurd of such a claim.
He starts from afar in the second question: “Are there not pieces of communication”
and evokes striving for more relevant examples, comparing: “more manipulative than
others”. Starting with a marker of uncertainty “Perhaps” in the third question he
“attacks” another user with all possible ways of paraphrasing the previous question in
a more accurate way: “they resemble a sample of speech control” [10].
Opposition 5. Obvious discourse marker is noticed in the reply of Korny O’Near:
“well”. Moreover, one of the dodging manipulative techniques – self-denying is
applied: “I’m not an expert on “transfer”. What is worse, the user unveils his
incompetence: “the same inaccuracy as “media manipulation” [10], which is, could
not be further analyzed from a scientific point of view. However, we consider such
discussion to be exceptionally cognitive and analyze the lingual and psychological
mechanism of one of the discourse manifestations. After all, Korny O’Near advocates
his statement that: “these are thoughts used to exchange thoughts” [10]. That idiom
“at heart” indicates that author became aware of what is transfer in manipulation, and
agrees with it: “everything here is about transmitting” [10]. But the discourse marker
“anyway” means that the user is not willing to reveal his curiosity in other user’s
statement but indeed is: “what really matters is considering all text as a manipulation”
[10]. Another marker of such a psychological trick is “if so”, “if not”. To draw a line
between manipulative and non-manipulative statements the user puts relevant
questions: “Why are some statements manipulation and others not?”. All in all, the
user concludes to his benefit: “a thought is not a kind of manipulative technique” [10].
All the statements before were just a mere insight into misunderstanding of real
manipulative transfers, and, in the end, the user refuses not only to change his mind,
but also advocate his unjustified conclusions.
Andrewaskew raises four main issues to be handled. By the way, he explains that
simple statements cannot be regarded as the manipulative ones: “this is not a sample
of transmit”, “absence of correlation of thoughts” [10]. Instead, the user justifies what
the manipulation transfer is: “would be examples of transfer”. The verb “associate” (2
times of occurrence) proves the fact that the user tries to explain the transfer, which is,
an association with some other object/subject.
There is an explicit comparison between “inexactitude of a definition” and “unclarity
of its constituent members” in the second issue.
Dealing with the third issue the author accepts the importance of the statement that
“all media is manipulation”, however, he immediately declines that statement:
“dispute over consistency of that question” [10] due to the inappropriateness in terms
of this discussion. The author’s conclusion is a suggestion: “So Wikipedia should
reflect that consensus”.
The discourse marker of uncertainty “In my personal opinion” aims the fourth issue at
the objective way of user’s expression. But, Andrewaskew, yet again, in the same way
as Korny O’Near advocates his own opinion. Still, he is not persuaded by another
user, just manifests his attitude, interpreting in a range of ways: “if the utterance has
something manipulative in it” [10]. There’s a necessity of using the manipulative
techniques of the statement, as: “use of technique which defines manipulation”. In
addition, he clarifies that it has nothing to do with: “it doesn’t mean that all means are
considered in a manipulative way” [10]. Conclusion is followed with a suggestion:
“requires more definite explanation”, “sources should be interpreted in a short way”
[10] (“need” 2 times of occurrence).
Opposition 6. Korny O’Near chose the statement to agree with: “That’s right, I agree
with you”, “what really matters here”, “should start with that” [10]. Nevertheless, it is
followed with disappointing markers: “Unfortunately”, “seems rather limited”. Then,
the user accepts his wrongness not directly but in a way of “having weighed the
situation”. Moreover, the user tries to interpret his acceptance of the previous user’s
statement in his own way, which is, to provide enhancement: “crucial here is purpose
- to deceive the scheme” [10]. The expression “to game the system” is used to,
anyway, advocate his previous thought. The next statement with the same example
that was mentioned above is, yet again, applied to show her righteousness in a way of
admitting that it is not a good example.
Andrewaskew reacts sharply at such remark: “discussing intentionality is
problematic”. In contrast, the user suggests: “we may dispute over speech or speech
forms” [10]. The user provides examples of media manipulation definitions from
various sources justifying and advocating his statement: “there are differences in
terms of that analytical suggestion” [10]. Regarding those definitions, the author
stands by his confession that: “it’s not necessary to address in such a strict way to a
person” [10].
Opposition 7. Finally, Korny O’Near agrees (2 times in a row) with the statement
that was previously neglected by him: “that’s really a great study”, “those notions
interpreted firstly are considered to be the greatest” [10]. He also notices that the
second definition is odd: “should be ignored, “should be removed”. Then, he swiftly
demonstrates the biggest divergence: “problem of the purpose - if it is needed or the
opposite” [10]. He repeats the previous user’s statement: “Requiring intent may be
“problematic”, expanding on it with an agreement: “may make our lives as editors
harder” [10], and, simultaneously, opposing: “whether there’s only a piece of it - this
is good” [10]. Still, his confusing opinion is justified and compared with an example.
After that, he contradicts himself – finds inaccuracies, interprets them in his way: “if
to take the first interpreted notion - it could have been written better” [10]. Usually, he
advocates his opinion: “the indication of intent is clear”.
Andrewaskew agrees with the previous user: “You're right”, “Your analogy to
manslaughter makes a lot of sense”. Nevertheless, their divergences still are:
“although”, “it isn’t required to read about purpose” [10]. He implicitly compares “a
single statement” with “the epitome of effective media manipulation”.
Opposition 8. Third time in a row Konry O’Near agrees with the previous user: “Of
course there may be plenty of samples concerning manipulation” [10], but still sounds
contradictory: “the question is whether all of them are manipulative?”, “If not, what's
the dividing line?” [10]. The discourse marker “again” demonstrates that the user
admits his own repetitiveness of the same thing: “it's the issue of intent”. He even
repeats another user’s agreement with an aim to prove the relevancy of the issue: “and
you seem to agree with me”. But such “if-oriented” question generates debate. The
examples of “it matters whether they concern emotional states” [10] tend to justify
ambiguity of the topic. Then follows an example, which really evokes contradictions:
“Is it a form of media manipulation?”.
Andrewaskew, in a role of smoothing the conflict, repeats: “Once again”, “reserved
people”, “dispute over some things” [10]. Concerning intent, the user repeats his
agreement: “yes, I support that it really matters” [10], but disagrees that it can face
consequences: “there’s a disagreement that here is a limit line” [10]. What is a
convincing statement: “if we discuss it further I suppose there’s no limit line” [10] to
stand by his initial confession: “everything in news and publishing is manipulative
technique” (repetitiveness). The statement “there’s no willingness to summarize” is
used in order not to hurt another user’s opinion in case he disagrees and not to sound
too self-assured. He justifies his opinion with a definition: “what really matters in
speech, to my mind, is a conversation between two people” [10]. We have “to draw
the line” - here the user refuses to deal with that issue, as “Limit line, to my mind, is a
manipulative technique”, “are there any influences upon the information stream, or
there are some implications?” [10]. As for the example provided by the previous user,
Andrewaskew is convinced in his righteousness that it is: “a little more alarmist and
manipulative”, “how we render information defines its manipulative hints”.
Opposition 9. Korny O’Near expresses his disapproval of the explanation provided
by Andrewaskew: “the samples above are manipulative, but is it truly right?” [10].
Andrewaskew replies accurately: “The real or fake utterance does not mean it is
manipulative” [10]. However, expands on the issue: “Even being false the statement
may be far better manipulative, just as it hinders another influence” [10]. The user
strongly rejects the point of merging manipulation page with media page: “No, I
wouldn't support”, “any more than I would support” [10]. The author tries to explain
that the subject matter of the Wiki talk page is about manipulation, not about media
features in general.
Opposition 10. Korny O’Near repeats, yet again, Andrewaskew’s statement “thought
itself attempting to alter a state is considered to be manipulative” [10]. The discourse
marker “okay” indicates that the user is willing to conclude some point, and it is not
the common thought for both of them: “so we've established that you think”.
Moreover, the user admits that the opinion of another user differs from his one: “valid
opinion”, but he also agrees that such a divergence breeds a subject matter of the Wiki
talk page: “even both thoughts are negative, it doesn’t mean that they have no sense”
[10]. Korny O’Near tries to find ways to diminish the statement of Andrewaskew in
order to trap him with other examples: “Such an utterance as "All ought to eat less"
makes sense?”. That user tries to differentiate between “we think that manipulations
are used here only in negative way” and “as you mean, they have to do only with
altering the meaning”. Such a sharp contrast is provided in order to oppose the
different nature of two views on manipulation. Furthermore, the user’s logic leads to
the absurdness of the statement of Andrewaskew: “In a more general way, if there’s
no manipulations, only thoughts, why should we analyze them?”.
Andrewaskew in order to avoid the conflict supports that both users have common but
different statements: “Let’s settle our overview”. He declines the user’s position:
“That’s not exactly my position”. Also, he provides a range of examples, which, to his
mind, describes manipulation in the brightest way: “a person who is interested in
manipulative detection will look for them on his own” [10]. He agrees that more
examples should illustrate more positive ways of manipulation in such spheres as:
“activism, marketing, and advertising”, but he keeps to his point.
Opposition 11. Korny O’Near agrees on the definition: “Okay, that definition sounds
fine to me”. In this case, the discourse marker “Okay” indicates a mild acceptance of
the definition, proposed by the previous user. Still, the user, as usual, stands by his
confession: “Although, there’s a disagreement that those samples have necessary
information” [10]. The user predicts the probable response of Andrewaskew in order
to make him ready for one more controversial statement: “Of course you could have
had a dispute over such a “transit””. He also states that he may misinterpret another
user’s thought: “if not to make account of responses” [10].
Andrewaskew revives the interest by suggestion: “am on the lookout for interested
editors”. As for blog posts: “Blog comments and posts, to my mind, should be
described as a content of news and publishing, although we have to deal with another
new culture of those blog posts”.
Andrewaskew provides a definition of media manipulation and Korny O’Near is truly
against: “The strangest utterance here is the first, to my mind” [10].
Andrewaskew, yet again, smoothes the conflict in order to find a solution: “Anyway
those samples cannot be interpreted in terms of questions which arise here. Whatever
it takes I see what you wanted to say” [10]. And, at last, he suggests a solution with an
attempt to make it the last one: “Well, to my mind, there’s a possibility to create new
samples, at least it is better for you to look awkward than sophisticated?” [10].
Opposition 12. The discourse marker “well” indicates that Korny O’Near is, as usual,
oriented controversially at the statement mentioned above. Firstly, he agrees that: “I
agree with you that all those samples are important” [10], but usually he expresses
disapproval: “What about samples - if to consider them right now, I do not suppose
that such kind of samples matters in terms of this article” [10], “peculiar objective
samples are not really considered beneficial, even though they might be interpreted as
a summary” [10]. The user assumes that both authors may agree on some example: “It
seems to me that for you and me it may be considered as an objective one, if to take
one part of it, and could be a great sample of manipulative techniques” [10]. The
question which follows, unlike other previous questions of this user, implies a
suggestion with an advisory manner: “Could that be regarded as a true or objective
sample of that sort of thing?”.
Andrewaskew provides credible information about the types of examples they really
need: “To my mind, samples are two-sided. Here we deal with proof, moreover,
something to be explained. There’s no case of obvious samples, although there’s a
possibility of some figures” [10]. Further, the matter of example relevance is
provided: “It makes sense when we talk about the accuracy and precise information
the examples may convey” [10]. The user also provides a suggestion in terms of
“Context” and “Techniques” sections: “Would you say they need to be rewritten?”.
Opposition 13. Korny O’Near agrees with the statement that changes should be
brought into “Techniques” section. This time the user does not try to convince another
user in his righteousness, but even aggress with him to some extent: “there’s no need
to be against that” [10].
Finally, Andrewaskew accepts the suggestion of Korny O’Near to be one of the
accurate definitions: “Oh, I like that”, “that is very short and concise”, “I doubt if
those examples may be used as the interpretation of ours” [10]. As for “Techniques”
section, the user suggests better ways to enhance it dealing with such problems as:
“We can deal with paraphrasing”, “Here is a great concentration of manipulative
forms”, “looks down at some other people” [10], “Does it belong in the article at
all?”. There are some suggestions: “For a minute, to my mind, it is required to be
thoughtful, if we could just make a section with a title “Manipulative forms or ways? ”
[10]. The question “What do you think?” indicates that the user’s suggestions should
be dealt together.
Opposition 14. Korny O’Near disagrees concerning that previous user’s statement:
“In my opinion, I do not see whether such separateness will help a lot”, “all our
efforts could have been reduced to another section with lots of issues” [10]. The
sharpest reply of all mentioned above in a question form: “we need to cut a lot in this
article if we want to make it perfect, right?” [10]. But Andrewaskew agrees on that
point: “To my mind, I will do that anyway, my gratitude” [10].
Table 1. A sequence of manipulations concerning conversation stages
Opposition Korny O’Near Andrewaskew
1 Rough perception of the nature of dialogue, Suppression with probable
doubtful suggestions and advices, opinion suggestions/advices
contrast
2 Uncertainty/ probability in comments Protesting with further
Resistance to another reply interpretation
Hidden persuasion Open persuasion
3 Personal advocacy, attempt of justification Expressive opposition,
assertiveness in own
statements, repetitiveness and
paraphrasing with emphasis,
Opposition Korny O’Near Andrewaskew
agreement with another reply,
standing by own confession
4 Unacceptance of another reply Assertiveness in own
statements, act of poaching,
suppression with probable
suggestions/advices
Hidden persuasion,
paraphrasing with emphasis
5 Dodging – self-denying, seem incompetent, Credible justification with
personal unjustified advocacy interpretation, comparison of
notions, setting the priorities
6 Agreement with another reply, suppression Sharp generalization,
with probable suggestions/advices, effect of suggestions, exemplification,
hopelessness, despair, positive interpretation justification, standing by own
of another reply, personal advocacy confession
7 Agreement with another reply, suppression Agreement with another reply,
with probable suggestions/advices, positive justification with comparison,
interpretation of another reply, justification protesting
with comparison, personal advocacy
8 Agreement with another reply, positive Agreement with another reply,
interpretation of another reply standing by own confession,
suppression with probable
suggestions/advices,
justification
9 Unacceptance of another reply Explanation, exemplification
10 Positive interpretation of another reply, Agreement with another reply,
technique of trapping repetitiveness and
paraphrasing with emphasis
11 Agreement with another reply Suppression with probable
suggestions/advices
Suggestions, exemplification
12 Unacceptance of another reply, assuming Suggestions, exemplification
agreement
13 Agreement with another reply Suggestions
14 Neglect in request Agreement with another reply
To conclude, a symbiosis of lingual, psychological and media-text discourse
analyses was applied. It allowed to establish the interrelation between users, mainly
those of the heated discussion – Andrewaskew and Korny O’Near, within the
communication on the Wiki Talk Page “Media Manipulation”. The lingual discourse
interpretation of the conversation along with the psychological insights was
considered. Different frequency of quantity was provided. As for the acceptance
(approval, agreement) of the statement and unacceptance (disapproval, disagreement),
the figure is 13 times in common for Korny O’Near and 3 in common for
Adrewaskew. From the interpretation analyzed, it is seen that Andrewaskew tends to
smoothen all the conflicts (frequent notion of euphemism) unlike Korny contradicts,
provokes, persuades, etc. The phenomenon of repetitiveness of the same statement,
phrase, marker (7 occurrences) proves the necessity of opinion justification, necessity
to emphasize with an aim to convince another user. Specific discourse marker of
caution indicated the willingness not to be misinterpreted. A notion of euphemism
was applied in a form of paraphrasing. The usage of idioms and set expressions varied
and generalized the statements. One of the user’s incompetence markers generated his
own contradictions. A numerous occurrences of rhetorical questions were caused due
to various aims: to poach, to convince/persuade, to sound competent, to interpret own
statements, to evoke doubts, to heat debate, to generate a conflict, to trap another user,
etc. A frequent usage of discourse markers of probability (e.g. it seems to me, I think,
IMHO) allows to assess the whole conversation as a suggestion-oriented, with an
advisory attitude to the article in general. The lingual and psychological techniques of
poaching/dodging were aimed at convincing/implicit unacceptance of the statements.
There were frequent comparisons within examples provided and statements as well.
They serve to clarify the subject matter of the statements.
4 Conclusions and Perspectives
In the paper, particular aspects of linguistic trace [12-16] from the psychological
manipulations in public communication within traditional social networks and forums
were considered. It should be noted that the study of linguistic traces of psychological
manipulations in discussions concerning Wikipedia pages is the first step towards
formalizing the system of indicators of manipulative influences. Such a system could
further form the basis for automated recognition of psychological manipulation
attempts regarding Wikipedia authors, for example in the form of a special Wiki-bot,
according to Wikipedia's recommendations. Such a tool [9] would be useful in
protecting the contents of Wikipedia from deliberately harmful influences and would
help strengthen the community of Wikipedia authors. Overall, the paper is a basis for
further studies on linguistic manipulation, its influences and techniques in different
types of communities of social networks.
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