LINGUISTICS MEANS FORMING A POSITIVE IMAGE OF A COUNTRY (WITHIN PORTUGUESE DIPLOMATIC DISCOURSE)

Abstract

The article presents the analysis of the texts of the Portuguese diplomatic discourse (congratulatory telegrams, welcome notes, protocol and ceremonial documents, etc.) from the point of view of means serving to create a positive image of the country. Linguistic and conceptual analyses are carried out; the basic tools of forming a conceptual field of the text are defined. Words and expressions representing the concepts of “Amizade” (“Friendship”), “Povo” (“People”), and “Confiança” (“Trust”) are seen as the basic means used to create a positive image. The concept of “Amizade” (“Friendship”) is the main concept accounting for the image’s linguocultural structure, linking together all the other concepts. It helps the Portuguese diplomats to form an image of Portugal as a community of friendly people. As a result, Portugal is seen as a friendly country towards all international actors, ready to demonstrate confidence and to improve relations at the collective and individual level. The article concludes that translator or interpreter while making his or her translation should take into account the conceptual structure of the text as part of the diplomatic discourse to convey most accurately the culturally significant meanings of the text.