Vladislav Milanov
Sofia University
https://doi.org/10.53656/bel2023-6-VM
Abstract. This article examines comparative dimensions of speech aggression in Bulgarian and Czech political discourse. The emergence of this text is linked to the increasing use of verbal aggression in the public sphere, often setting behavioral patterns in society. The hypothesis is put forth that speech aggression underlies physical aggression, and both phenomena have acquired threatening dimensions in the contemporary realities of both states. Examples of offensive and vulgar words from the last three Bulgarian parliaments are analyzed, while for the Czech Republic, the examples span a more extended period. Lexical-thematic groups containing words of an offensive and vulgar nature have been formed based on the rich excerpted material. The main conclusion of the study is that verbal insults are increasing in official situations, using lexicon characteristic of non-prestigious and unofficial communication contexts. Insult, as a speech act, expands its parameters and does not recognize the boundaries of what is permissible and impermissible in official communication.
Keywords: speech etiquette; offensive and vulgar words; insult as a speech act; types of insults in Bulgarian and Czech political discourse
