On the issue of differentiation of factual and subjective judgments

Abstract

The article presents the experience of linguistic expert research of discrediting media text aimed at diminishing the business reputation of a legal entity. In the process of analysis, such tasks of linguistic expertise as identifying statements containing negative information, and establishing the object in question in these judgments are solved. The paper defines the informational nature of the studied statements: they are differentiated into statements of facts and subjective judgments, which are linguistic correlates for such legal terms as information and opinions. The article reveals speech moves aimed at expressing the subject's opinion. An opinion is considered as a type of statement that reflects the speaker's subjective position, and therefore is not subject to verification and is not the subject of legal proceedings. The study revealed negative information about the subject of the publication, which can be checked for compliance with reality, which contributes to the legal qualification of the disputed text under the article «Protection of honor, dignity and business reputation».