The Phenomenon of National Identity in American Mass Media

Abstract

This article is devoted to the study of verbal reflection of the phenomenon of national identity in the discourse of modern American media. The concept of “identity” and its role in human life were considered. Characteristic features of “ethnic” and “national” identities were analyzed. The necessity of a detailed study of the issue of modern man's identity against the background of large-scale globalisation processes was revealed and substantiated. The authors emphasised the readers' attention to the difficulties of forming national identity in the conditions of a multi-ethnic, multinational state. The authors give examples of representation of the phenomenon of national identity in media discourse. Media texts in English were analysed. On the basis of mass media articles, the authors revealed the peculiarities of the manifestation of national identity in American society. The authors conclude, that national identity serves as a tool to strengthen the unity of different ethno-communities in the United States, reflecting the socio-cultural state of the nation and defining its ideology.