Cognitive-pragmatic foundations of the discursive nature of euphemism

this study offers a methodological rethinking of euphemism as a dynamic, context-dependent, and functionally charged phenomenon that extends beyond the traditional lexical-semantic approach. Euphemism is viewed not as an isolated linguistic unit, but as an element of a broader communicative process embodied in the form of euphemistic discourse. The article proposes a new understanding of euphemistic discourse, defined as a set of linguistic, cognitive, and pragmatic strategies aimed at mitigating, circumventing, and adapting socially sensitive information within modal and normative constraints. Within the framework of cognitive-discursive and pragmatic approaches, euphemism is analyzed as a means of communicative regulation, ensuring a balance between personal affect, institutional restraint, and the demands of public acceptability. As an empirical basis, the article examines a fragment from an interview with Prince Harry, rich in euphemistic strategies that illustrate the mechanisms of adapting speech behavior in conditions of public vulnerability and social tension. The analysis demonstrates that euphemization in this context serves not only a communicative but also a representational and ethical-protective function, highlighting the potential of euphemistic discourse as a multi-layered form of symbolic interaction.

euphemistic discourse, cognitive-pragmatic approach, nomination, mitigation strategies, discursive representation, socially sensitive content