Nominations of Persons with Disabilities in Modern German

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of nominations referring to persons with disabilities in the modern German language. The aim of the study was to identify the main structural features of these nominations, their semantics and functioning across various discourse types. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the integrated approach to the study of nominations, combining linguistic and socially oriented parameters of analysis. The relevance of the study is due to the growing attention of society to issues of inclusion and the need to form a correct linguistic norm regarding the designation of persons with disabilities.

Methodology and sources. The methodological framework of the study is the cognitive, pragmatic and sociolinguistic approaches, allowing to consider the nomination as a result of the interaction of language and social representations. The empirical basis of the study is German-language texts of medical, legal and media discourses. The data were collected through continuous sampling from six publications about people with disabilities. The analysis includes the systematisation of the identified designations, the determination of their discursive functions and their interpretation within contemporary linguistic practice.

Results and discussion. The total number of extracted nominations was 209 units. The obtained results show that the analysed texts are dominated by neutral and inclusive nominations aimed at emphasising the individual rather than his/her health problems. Legal texts are dominated by nominations established by law, reflecting the legal status of persons with disabilities. Medical texts demonstrate a high level of detail in describing the disabilities of individuals, which is reflected in their designations. In media texts, a combination of neutral and evaluative nominations is observed, which is associated with the influence of social stereotypes and emotions.

Conclusion. The obtained results indicate the formation of an inclusive norm in the German language, focused on respectful and neutral designation of disability. Nominations serve as an important tool for representing individuals and reflect dynamic changes in society.

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