NEGATIVE STRUCTURES IN THE EUPHEMISTIC FUNCTION IN THE RUSSIAN AND POLISH LANGUAGES Cover Image

ОТРИЦАТЕЛЬНЫЕ СТРУКТУРЫ В ЭВФЕМИСТИЧЕСКОЙ ФУНКЦИИ В РУССКОМ И ПОЛЬСКОМ ЯЗЫКАХ
NEGATIVE STRUCTURES IN THE EUPHEMISTIC FUNCTION IN THE RUSSIAN AND POLISH LANGUAGES

Author(s): Halina Kudlińska
Subject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Semantics, Pragmatics, Comparative Linguistics, Sociolinguistics, Western Slavic Languages, Eastern Slavic Languages, Philology
Published by: Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет
Keywords: euphemism; understatement; functional-semantic field of negation; meiosis; metalepsis; sociolinguistics; contrastive linguistics; Russian-Polish language parallels;

Summary/Abstract: The paper is devoted to the study of euphemization and as a pragmalinguistic category and also an indirect communication strategy with the ameliorating intent, i.e., as a means of ensuring the communication comfort and eliciting cooperation with the receiver. In the present study, a specific euphemistic device, “euphemization through negation”, in the Polish and Russian linguocultures is analyzed. Explicit and implicit models of euphemistic negation implemented in various structures and at different language levels (words, phrases, and sentences) are distinguished. Comparative analysis of this type of understatement is carried out. Its fundamental structural characteristics are indicated. The analysis reveals significant structural parallels between the Russian and Polish languages with respect to the type of euphemisms under consideration, although certain differences can also be observed. The use of negative structures in the euphemistic function is motivated by the intention to tone down the categorical character of statements.

  • Issue Year: 157/2015
  • Issue No: 5
  • Page Range: 90-97
  • Page Count: 8
  • Language: Russian
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