Lexical Changes in Football Commentators’ Speech from the Late 20th to the First Quarter of the 21st Century

Aim. To identify lexical transformations in the speech of Soviet and Russian football commentators in the context of sociocultural change. Methodology. The analysis is based on archival broadcasts of football matches spanning the period from 1987 to 2024 (featuring V. N. Maslachenko, V. I. Pereturin, V. V. Utkin, and V. S. Stogniyenko). The research employs methods of lexical, discourse, and comparative analysis, as well as elements of the linguistic cultural approach. Results. The findings reveal that political, cultural, and technological factors have significantly influenced the linguistic evolution of sports commentators. The study documents instances of anglicization, stylistic register shifts, and the emergence of neologisms. Research implications. The research traces shifts in commentator speech as reflections of broader sociocultural dynamics. It raises questions about language norms in mass media and introduces previously unsystematized lexical material into the academic study of sports discourse.