Euphemization of the Nominative Field “Epidemic” in the Modern English Media Discourse
The paper aims to identify specificity of using euphemistic units of the nominative field “epidemic” in the modern English media discourse. Scientific originality of the study lies in the fact that the English euphemistic nominations designating the coronavirus pandemic have not been previously investigated. It is shown that nowadays the mentioned disease has a negative connotation among the native English speakers. The conducted research has allowed the author to verify the euphemistic function of language units and to identify motives of euphemistic nominations. The research findings are as follows: the author identifies the most productive means of euphemisms formation in the English nominative field “epidemic”, reveals interrelation of the euphemistic potential of a unit and a type of motivation.