Cognitive-pragmatic representation of the image as the basis of euphemistic discourse and euphemistic text

Abstract

The article presents the author’s approach to describing the euphemistic text and euphemistic discourse, offering new strategies for euphemistic text formation and factors contributing to the development of euphemistic discourse. The representation of the image of euphemism is viewed as a hierarchical process, evolving from a lexical unit to the compositional structure of a text and further to institutionally established discursive practices. At the lexical level, the image is embedded in interpretatively marked lexical items and markers of euphemistic choice. At the text level, the image of euphemism is realized through syntactic and rhetorical strategies, ensuring contextual mitigation. At the discourse level, the image becomes part of a collective cognitive scheme and an intersubjective model of interaction, embedded in culturally determined norms of interpretation. The proposed model demonstrates how the image of euphemism becomes more complex and integrates into socio-communicative formats.