Representation of English Euphemisms in Political Text

Abstract

This article aims to reveal how English political euphemism reflected in political texts. This article displays how linguistic phenomenon provides evidence that language is not only a reflection of the objective world but also a process of social construction. The methods of linguocultural analysis, content analysis and lexico-semantic analysis were used to analyse the representation of English euphemisms in political text based on the materials of two reputable American newspapers such as The Washington Post and The New York Times. Having conducted the research, the following findings were revealed: (1) Euphemisms play a central role in softening political competition and crisis rhetoric. (2) Economic and diplomatic reporting often uses euphemisms to avoid negativity and maintain neutrality.  (3) Furthermore, in sensitive areas such as war, human rights, and public opinion, euphemisms soften harsh realities, conceal violence, and guide how audiences perceive political actions. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of applying its results in such fields as Linguistics, Journalism, Language Teaching, and Intercultural Communication. The identified features of English political euphemisms can be useful to linguists in creating and analysing political texts, as well as to teachers and students studying political texts and intercultural communication.