“political correctness”: interpretation aspects

The article provides the topical for modern society notion - the notion of political correctness. The author discloses its content in different historical epochs and in the appliance to various branches of science and humanities: political science, sociology, cultural studies and others. Special attention is paid to discussions concerning the volume of the notion in the linguistic aspect: political correctness is analyzed in connection with such notions as speech behavior, language world view, euphemism, tolerance. It is stated that political correctness influences the changes of linguistic worldview, and the existence of euphemisms helps to preserve discrimination in the society. On the basis of articles written for Russian news portals it is shown that Russian Media use the notions of political correctness and tolerance as synonyms, and this reflects the mixture of notions. The article provides the criteria to differentiate these notions: object character, which is directed by tolerant speech behavior, the opportunity to hide the information, directed or indirected nature of such behavior and others. The research of H.-J. Klatt is taken as a basis and it helps to support the necessity to introduce a new course “Political Correctness” in the programs of Russian higher education institutions and universities, secondary schools, gymnasiums.