EUPHEMISMS IN THE POLITICAL DISCOURSE (BASED ON THE SPEECH BY BORIS JOHNSON)

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the investigation of the euphemisms in the English language used in the political discourse based on the speech by Boris Johnson. The main approaches to the definition of the notion euphemism have been provided in the view point of Ukrainian as well as foreign researches. Not only modern definitions have been thoroughly analysed but those of the past as well. Different ways of classification of euphemisms by Ukrainian and unanimously foreign linguists have been outlined. There are numerous definitions of the term euphemism, but still there is no commonly accepted notion of this term. The purpose of the article is to define the functions and semantic significance of euphemisms in the political discourse of speech by Boris Johnson. The methodology of the work includes the logical method of analysis of scientific works; descriptive method; definitional and context analysis. The scientific novelty has been reached by a detailed semantic analysis of euphemisms used in the speech by Boris Johnson. The social importance of this aspect has been defined, i.e. euphemisms function in the political discourse so that to make the speech sound much milder, not so formal and unacceptable and also to make the addressee feel interested in the presented information. The following functions of euphemisms have been singled out: evaluative, cooperative, preventative, rhetorical, elative, conspiratory and distortive. Conclusions euphemisms are widely used in the political discourse in order to make the speech sound milder, not so impressive for the listener. The pragmatic aim of the euphemism usage has been defined in the political speech. It has been generalized that the political speech is very so often stand offish due to abundant usage of standard phrases, repetitive words and constructions. To make the addressee feel interested in the speech euphemism are used. Euphemism as means of tolerant expression of speech need further detailed investigation and analysis.