EUPHEMISMS IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE AMERICAN AND RUSSIAN CONTEXTS

Аннотация

Linguistic tools are instrumental in shaping political discourse in modern states. Euphemisms, in particular, serve as a key mechanism for mitigating sensitive issues and managing public opinion. This paper explores the role of euphemistic expressions in political communication, focusing on how political actors utilize language to legitimize controversial decisions and minimize negative societal responses. The study provides a comparative analysis of the American and Russian political traditions, highlighting differences in euphemism usage shaped by political culture and historical context. It is argued that while both nations employ euphemisms strategically, their communicative approaches reflect divergent rhetorical priorities and sociopolitical objectives. Keywords: Political discourse; Euphemisms; Political communication; Language and power; American political rhetoric; Russian political rhetoric; Public opinion management; Ideological framing; Comparative linguistics; Political culture