Beyond Case: An Integrated Discourse Analysis for Lavrov’s Speeches

Political discourse operates through the complex interplay of semantic, affective, and pragmatic dimensions. Here we propose Integrated Discourse Analysis (IDA), a systematic methodology that combines Keymorph Analysis (KMA), agentivity analysis of verb semantics and thematic roles with sentiment analysis. KMA, a quantitative methodology that measures morpheme frequencies, provides a foundation for analyzing case meanings. In Russian, genitive case markers can signal either agent or patient roles when used with deverbal nouns, requiring verbal semantics to determine agentivity. Verb semantics addresses this limitation by clarifying agentivity in argument structures. Sentiment analysis furnishes quantitative evidence for the speaker’ affective stance toward referents. Applying IDA to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's speeches on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, this study reveals how Lavrov systematically constructs Russia as a positively evaluated agentive subject while portraying Ukraine and NATO as negatively evaluated non-agentive entities. Statistical validation revealed significant differences in agentivity distribution among these nouns. IDA offers an empirically grounded, multidimensional framework, providing new insights into rhetorical strategies in contemporary political narratives.