Nebeliuk L. Linguo-cognitive characteristics of euphemisms in the English language American political discourse (based on publications in mass media of 2000–2020).

The thesis investigates linguo-cognitive characteristics of euphemisms in the English language American political discourse. It has been established that euphemism as a phenomenon of cognitive derivation is based on such cognitive mechanisms as a conceptual metaphor, conceptual metonymy and metaphtonymy. Positive or relatively neutral source domains with the help of which negative phenomena are conceptualized in the process of euphemisation have been defined and conceptual metaphors in the bases of the euphemisms under study have been established. Due to the conceptual integration theory conceptual networks have been built and the process of emerging of euphemistic sense has been exposed. The type of conceptual metonymy in the bases of the euphemisms under study has been defined. It has been found out that euphemisms are based on metaphtonymy, which is expressed with a metonymic extension of the source or aim of the metaphor in the process of conceptual integration. In the course of the research, hidden senses have been revealed and a tendency of the euphemistic conceptualization through opposite senses has been observed. Peculiarities of associative comprehension of the euphemisms under study and their influence on addressee’s cognition have been described.