V. Maiba, O. Marunevich
MANIPULATIVE POTENTIAL OF EUPHEMISMS AND DYSPHEMISMS IN POLITICAL TEXTS OF THE CONTEMPORARY RUSSIAN MEDIA
Abstract. The given paper is focused on the linguistic analysis of the present-day Russian media texts that realize their manipulative potential using a wide array of methods and techniques. We have managed to prove that one of the most popular means of influencing the recipient is euphemization and dysphemization of events and phenomena described by journalists. Depending on the author’s intention, the replacement of words is carried out to shift the emphasis from something negative to neutral and vice versa. At the same time, this technique allows the journalists to distort information and tell a lie without being caught by hiding the true meaning of the word / expression. Along with specifying the priority topics that are subject to euphemization and dysphemization, we have also revealed the dependence of the use of these tropes on the media political orientation.
Keywords: media discourse, mass media, manipulation, speech influence, euphemism, dysphemism, recipient