COVID-19 AS AN ELEMENT OF INTERDICTIVE COMMUNICATION OF THE ENGLISH-SPEAKING SOCIETY IN THE ECOLINGUISTIC ASPECT

Abstract

The paper deals with the description of COVID-19 as a taboo topic in the interdictive communication of the English- speaking society in the ecolinguistic aspect and aims at revealing the semantic, phonetic and word-formation characteristics of euphemistic lexicalization of COVID-19 as well as establishing the role of euphemisms in speech and language rehabilitation. Interdictive communication is defined as been restrained by artificial restrictions and prohibitions – taboos that, according to speech etiquette, should be veiled by euphemisms. The research is performed in the mainstream of linguistic ecology which postulates the interdependence of language, speech and the ecosystem in which they exist – a communicative space where interaction aimed at harmonious socialization is realized. The linguistic ecosystem is characterized by a specific reciprocity of elements predetermined by a set of parameters within different models and depends on the number of linguotoxic elements that pose a threat to the language environment, among which is taboo. Euphemistic lexicalization within the framework of ecolinguistic theory is recognized as a means of therapeutic function of language and rehabilitates taboos in interdictive communication. Euphemistic (“veiling”) units are formed due to a number of formal techniques (semantic, phonetic and word-forming). The formal techniques used to create euphemisms in the fragments of the present-day English-language discourse include synonymization (the use of semantic and stylistic synonyms), metaphorization, the use of acronyms, “language game” and blending. The euphemisms for COVID-19 and related subjects / phenomena / events in the discursive fragments studied are aimed at the alleviating of fear experienced by the recipients of the messages.