Rituality as a way of actualizing the category of otherness within the judicial discourse

The article deals with the rituality as one of the ways of actualizing the category of otherness within the judicial discourse, in general, and the court session, in particular. The author analyzes the relevant features of rituality in the judicial discourse, reveals the categorical connection between the rituality and otherness, the speech means which actualize their interaction. The author gives examples illustrating the actualization of the concept by means of rituality in the texts of court sessions' records. In addition, the author identifies the main communicative strategies and tactics used by the participants of judicial discourse. They serve as a means of expressing the analyzed categories. It is shown that a convict often uses the communicative strategy of self-defense, a defender and/or lawyer - the communicative strategy of defense or psychological impact, the prosecutor often appeals to the strategy of accusation and psychological impact. The author makes conclusion that the ritual character of judicial communication as a whole contributes to the distinction of discourse participants according to the features of "friend" and "enemy" thus actualizing the category of otherness.