Metaphorical and Euphemistic Representation of the Concept of “War” in Russian and American Political Discourse

This article examines the relationship between conceptual metaphors and euphemisms in Russian and American political discourse within the framework of contemporary geopolitical confrontation. Particular attention is given to two key linguistic units: the conceptual metaphor WAR, manifested in thematic domains such as politics, illness, death, and values, and the euphemism Special Military Operation (SMO), serving as a means of referring to military actions. The study highlights the polarity of functions performed by these phenomena: while conceptual metaphors operate as instruments of information decoding, euphemisms function as mechanisms of information encoding, aimed at reducing emotional impact by narrowing the semantic field of the source domain.<br/> The analysis identifies thematic domains that reveal differences in Russian and American discursive practices concerning the interpretation of armed conflict. Examining the interplay between metaphors and euphemisms demonstrates the role of language in constructing ideologically charged worldviews and influencing collective perceptions of reality. The findings contribute to theoretical discussions on the role of language in shaping political reality and emphasize the divergence of discursive strategies in Russia and the United States in the context of informational confrontation.