LANGUAGE POLICY AND SOCIOCULTURAL CONTEXT AS FACTORS IN THE FORMATION OF GENDER-SPECIFIC UKRAINIAN EUPHEMISMS AND DYSPHEMISMS

Анотація

This article examines the formation and functioning of gender-specific euphemisms and dysphemisms (i.e. referring to men or women) in Ukrainian literary texts written in the period from the end of the eighteenth century to the present day. The study has a historical, socio-cultural, and political dimension, as it attempts to describe the impact of language policy, culture, and historical context that prevailed in Ukrainian society during this period, on the development, formation, and functioning of the analyzed stylistic figures. The analysis of the data shows a clear prevalence of dysphemisms in the works of the authors studied. Moreover, we note that the majority of entries belongs to the familiar and vulgar register from different sociolects (jargon and argo elements). The study of euphemisms and dysphemisms brings to light the representations of men and women which prevailed at certain times and persist in Ukrainian society today.