Modeling an Online Speaker’s Speech Activity Under the Conditions of Uncertainty

Kuzina, Svetlana I.; Sagiryan, Inga G.; Krasnova, Elena A.; Barashyan, Valentina K.

Introduction. The article describes the requirements for the image of an academic speaker under conditions of uncertainty. Criteria for forming an online speaker’s image in modern information and communication space are considered. The significance of changing the status of an academic speaker-lecturer and student-listener as participants in the communication act in a digital environment is studied. It is concluded that the space of uncertainty has created a new image of an academic speaker with a number of distinctive features and peculiarities. Purpose of Work. The aim of the undertaken research is to identify and describe the fundamental changes that have influenced the formation of a new type of academic speaker and to determine the peculiarities of his perception by the audience in the context of virtual communication. The goal required solving the following interrelated tasks: to investigate the conditions for the formation of an academic online speaker; to identify the distinctive features of the online speaker from other types of speakers; to analyze the process of adapting a new type of academic speaker to the virtual communication environment in the distance learning format. Methodologies and Techniques. To achieve the goal of research and solve the identified problems the following methods were used: the method of system description (as the main one), the method of comparative analysis, the method of linguistic observation and the method of frontal survey. A frontal survey of the second-year students of Department of Law of the Don State Technical University was used as an empirical basis for the study, in which 150 recipients took part. Results. A working definition of the term «online speaker» is given, the conditions of uncertainty in which the speaker has to build up communication with the Internet audience are characterized. The results of observing the unplanned mass transfer of academic communication in higher education to online environment are described. The factors influencing the formation of the online speaker’s image are identified. Practical Significance. The materials and results of the study may be of interest to teachers of higher education, educators and heads of educational institutions working under the conditions of distance learning. Recommendations. The change of the system of interpersonal interaction in the academic environment of higher education requires not only the introduction of new educational online technologies but also a detailed study of the forms of communication behind them, the development of other ones, including professional and image approaches to organizing communication.