Dysphemisms as a means of language manipulation in media space (Based on English articles)

The article discusses the functioning patterns of dysphemisms as a language tool to implement the discrediting strategy in English media. The authors reveal such basic notions as “dysphemism”, “manipulation”, 20 “dysphemisation”, present the main functions performed by dysphemisms in the media to implement the discrediting strategy. During the study, a number of methods were used: description, continuous sampling, contextual analysis, vocabulary definitions and statistical analysis. The material of the research was comprised by articles from English Internet resources. As a result, the main function of dysphemisms clearly manifested in the analysis of the events in media texts was classified as the function of discrediting. A number of tactics were identified: insult, accusation, mockery, ridicule, the examples of their manifestation in the material were analyzed. The research is based on specific cases of dysphemistic speech usage to convey expressiveness or disapproval, neglect, negative attitude of the authors of the articles towards the addressee. The analysis showed that dysphemisation and the use of stylistically low vocabulary turned out the most common techniques actively exploited by journalists in newspaper discourse to distort information or form a negative perception of the described object among the readers. The process of dysphemisation is atypical for quality press. It is assumed that the frequency of the tactics correlates with legal norms.