DYSPHEMISMS AS LEXICAL MEANS OF LANGUAGE EXPRESSION (ON THE EXAMPLE OF A MODERN YOUTH ENGLISH-LANGUAGE NOVEL)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the issue of dysphemisms as expressive linguistic means in the modern novel The Host by S. Meyer, as well as their identification and classification in the language system. Dysphemisms are treated in accordance with their linguistic, namely, semantic and pragmatic, as well as extralinguistic factors, taking into account psychological and social characteristics of a speaker. Despite that fact that the author shares the traditional definition of dysphemisms as words or expressions opposite in function to euphemisms, the conscious use of vulgar, rude, stylistically low, often obscene words and expressions with a purpose of expressing strong negative evaluation or create expression in those cases when needed, the author also shares an innovative approach to the understanding of dysphemisms (the one that is not restricted to a lexical dimension), namely as a cognitive process of a particular reality’s conceptualization. This approach can be treated as a supplement to a traditional one. Combined, these two approaches can give a wider perspective to the notion of dysphemia. Dysphemia is interpreted as a manifestation of verbal aggression and a potentially manipulative language tool. Negative communicative intention of the speaker, negative emotional reactions of the addressee to dysphemic statements and inconsistency of the content of the utterance, the nature of verbal communication and personality of the addressee are defined as the main motives that drive the speaker to use dysphemisms. Manifestation of verbal aggression, expressed through dysphemia, leads to conflicts and/or their escalation, contrary to socially accepted communicative behavior. It is worth mentioning that from a psychological point of view, dysphemisms can be considered as an indicator of internal conflicts in the psyche. Pragmatic function of dysphemisms gives potential for further analysis of their inherent pragmalinguistic and discursive-linguistic functions. Of particular interest is the study of dysphemisms from the viewpoint of psychology and culturology, which can help reveal the pragmatic nature of dysphemisms and contribute to the scientific substantiation of motives that encourage the use of dysphemisms in language. Thus, we conclude that the peculiarities of the functioning of dysphemisms remain unclear and require further rigorous study and detailed analysis.