THE POWER OF LEXICON IN SHAPING MILITARY NARRATIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/gph2025.852.3-13Keywords:
military lexicon, text of fiction, narrative, discourse, stylisticsAbstract
The article dwells on the role of military lexicon as a significant component in the development of character portraying, and the overall aesthetic and semantic structure of military-themed fiction. The material for analysis is based on Heart of War, a novel by contemporary American writer and military journalist Luciano Truscott, which reflects the peculiarities of military-legal discourse in literary form. The study examines how various types of military vocabulary – terminology, abbreviations, jargon, and euphemisms – perform not only nominative but also stylistic, psychological, pragmatic, and sociocultural functions. Special attention is paid to the integration of these lexical elements into the narrative structure, their influence on the pace and logic of plot development, and their role in shaping the linguistic portraits of the characters.
The analysis demonstrates that military terminology in the novel is not merely a background element or a tool for creating a realistic setting – It becomes a full-fledged artistic instrument through which the author constructs the atmosphere, sets the rhythm of narration, defines the characters’ value systems, and highlights the conflict between the institutional logic of military and the individual’s moral stance. The use of military slang and abbreviations enhances the authenticity of dialogues, reveals the characters’ affiliation with military subculture, as well as their emotional states, experience, and professional roles. Euphemisms, on the other hand, emphasize the detachment of military bureaucracy from the real consequences of warfare, underscore the psychological transformation of speech in wartime conditions, and serve as a means of implicit criticism of the system.
The methodological framework of the research is grounded in the principles of linguistic-stylistic and discourse analysis, which allow for the identification of both structural and functional characteristics of military vocabulary within the literary text. Elements of pragmatic linguistics are also applied, offering a deeper understanding of how the military lexicon shapes the reader’s perception of the novel’s moral and ideological content.
The article argues that military vocabulary in fiction serves not only as a mirror of reality but also as a powerful ideological tool, shaping a critical perspective on military events, bureaucratic mechanisms, and ethical dilemmas. Through linguistic means, the author creates a complex, multilayered structure of communication, where words function as markers of professional identity, inner conflict, personal transformation, and worldview evolution. Thus, military vocabulary in Heart of War emerges as a powerful device for artistic modeling of conflict that intertwines the institutional, personal, and social dimensions of war.
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