Phishing linguistics: a functional and stylistic analysis of phishing emails
https://doi.org/10.18384/2949-5075-2026-1-6-28
Abstract
Aim. The study is focused on identifying the relationship between the choice of functional styles and the means of hidden manipulative influence in the texts of phishing messages.
Methodology. A total of one hundred samples of email phishing (fifty in English and fifty in German) were analyzed, selected using a continuous sampling method from open Internet sources. Interpretative and contextual analysis methods are employed to investigate the factual material.
Results. The analysis allowed us to establish patterns in the use of various functional styles in the structure of phishing messages, thereby identifying prevailing style preferences and manipulation mechanisms through natural language.
Research implications. These findings could be useful for further interdisciplinary research in information security and deception linguistics, as well as for teaching English and German language theory and practice.
About the Authors
E. V. Avdosenko
Irkutsk National Research Technical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena V. Avdosenko – Cand. Sci (Philology), Assoc. Prof., Department of Foreign Languages No. 1
Irkutsk
G. A. Ageeva
Irkutsk National Research Technical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Galina A. Ageeva – Cand. Sci (Philology), Assoc. Prof., Department of Foreign Languages No. 2
Irkutsk
P. V. Yan’kova
Irkutsk National Research Technical University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Pauline V. Yan’kova – Cand. Sci (Philology), Assoc. Prof., Department of Foreign Languages No. 1
Irkutsk
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