2313-8912Research Result. Theoretical and Applied Linguistics2313-891210.18413/2313-8912-2018-4-2-0-21434THEORY OF LANGUAGEMILITARY METAPHOR IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE: TACTICS AND STRATEGYMILITARY METAPHOR IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE: TACTICS AND STRATEGYKurashSergey B.KurashSergey B.text2005@mail.ruAmatovAlexander M.AmatovAlexander M.amatov@bsu.edu.ruSvishchovGennady VladimirovichSvishchovGennady Vladimirovichsvishchev@bsu.edu.ruBelgorod State National Research University, RussiaI.P. Shamyakin Mozyr State Pedagogical University, Belarus20184200

One of the main tasks of political communication is to create and promote the image of a politician. The process is aimed at creating both a positive image that is attractive to society, which is a key factor of influencing mass consciousness and pursuing their goals, as well as the negative one used by a politician to discredit their opponents in a tough competition of modern policies. In the modern information society, the main function of the mass media – Informative – changes its nature and is transformed into a manipulative function. One of the tools of manipulating the audience is a metaphor. The active use of metaphors in political discourse is due to its ability to influence each of the stages of solving problems in the political sphere: understanding the problem situation, finding options for solving it, evaluating alternatives, and choosing options. The theoretical study and consistent description of political metaphors seem to be one of the most promising and dynamically developing trends in modern linguistics, particularly in the field of discourse analysis. The metaphorical picture of the world reflects the specifics of the national consciousness and ways of thinking that are characteristic of this or that period of political life of the state. One of the types of political metaphor that occupies a central place in the political discourse of any state is a military metaphor. The paper deals with military metaphors functioning in political discourse. Their role in the global communicative strategy, “Them and Us” is revealed, along with the ensuing tactics.

One of the main tasks of political communication is to create and promote the image of a politician. The process is aimed at creating both a positive image that is attractive to society, which is a key factor of influencing mass consciousness and pursuing their goals, as well as the negative one used by a politician to discredit their opponents in a tough competition of modern policies. In the modern information society, the main function of the mass media – Informative – changes its nature and is transformed into a manipulative function. One of the tools of manipulating the audience is a metaphor. The active use of metaphors in political discourse is due to its ability to influence each of the stages of solving problems in the political sphere: understanding the problem situation, finding options for solving it, evaluating alternatives, and choosing options. The theoretical study and consistent description of political metaphors seem to be one of the most promising and dynamically developing trends in modern linguistics, particularly in the field of discourse analysis. The metaphorical picture of the world reflects the specifics of the national consciousness and ways of thinking that are characteristic of this or that period of political life of the state. One of the types of political metaphor that occupies a central place in the political discourse of any state is a military metaphor. The paper deals with military metaphors functioning in political discourse. Their role in the global communicative strategy, “Them and Us” is revealed, along with the ensuing tactics.

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