POLITICAL CORRECTNESS AND VERBAL TAOOS (ON MATERIALS OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE)

Abstract

The active processes of globalization that are occurring today intensify communication. They require speakers to look for new more appropriate ways to succeed in communicating, taking into account the principles of political correctness. Political correctness is one of the manifestations of modern taboos that directly affect people’s speech. Although this problem is actively debated in scientific circles, there is no comprehensive analysis of the correlation between political correctness and taboo, in particular in the German language culture. The article studies the phenomenon of political correctness and how it functions in the German society. It is also established how political correctness determines verbal taboos and which topics are most vulnerable. The material of the German-language press from the years 2010-2017 explores the main ways of implementing language taboos. Many examples demonstrate the foundation of political correctness: the choice of delicate terminology, the prohibition of racism, sexism and other forms of verbal humiliation, the paper also gives examples of social pressure to prevent the use of certain politically incorrect expressions in the German linguistic culture. Also, attention is focused on various points of view in the German scientific circles for language changes because of the need to adhere to the principles of political correctness.