Proceedings of Voronezh State University. Series: Linguistics and Intercultural Communication
ISSN: 1680-5755 | Issues per year: 4 | Impact-factor RSCI 2021: 0,296 Scientific journal that publishes original research papers in Russian on the problems of theoretical and applied linguistics, translation studies and critical reviews of books on linguistics. Articles previously published or under consideration by another journal cannot be accepted. Indexed and abstract: EBSCO database; Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI); List of Peer-reviewed Scientific Journals, entering to the international abstract databases and the systems of citing, recommended by the Higher Attestation Commission of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science for publication of principal scientific results of competitors for scientific degrees of science’s doctor and candidate. Editor-in-chief: Alexey A. Kretov, Doctor of Philology, Professor (Voronezh State University)
LINGUISTIC INTERFERENCE AS A TRANSFER OF SOCIOCOGNITIVE STRUCTURES
Тhe study of linguistic interference has attracted the attention of scientists for many decades, there are diff erent views and approaches to the study of this phenomenon. So far, interference has been studied mainly from sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic and linguodidactic points of view in the context of problems of bilingualism, borrowing, neologization, translation and foreign language learning. This study is based on the latest trends in the development of linguistics and considers linguistic interference as a sociocognitive phenomenon, i.e. as a process of transfer, dissemination and transformation of knowledge structures due to the transition from one society to another. The purpose of this paper is to develop and construct a model of a socially conditioned knowledge structure that is transferred and transformed in the process of interference. The starting point for the construction of the sociocognitive model of interference is W. Croft's "semiotic triangle" model, which distinguishes form, meaning, and society, emphasizing that the relationship between form and meaning is shared by members of society and is based on convention. The study shows that linguistic interference does not represent an exclusively mechanistic process of knowledge exchange, but involves the initiation of processes of reinterpretation of reality, accompanied by transformations of sociocognitive structures. The sociocognitive models underlying the semantics of words include both knowledge about the world (the natural world and the world of artifacts) and knowledge about language, and are conditioned by the specifi cs of the corresponding linguoculture. Consequently, the way in which sociocognitive models relate form and meaning is determined by the perspective given by social practices and social structure. Shifting from one society to another involves a shift in perspective, which is accompanied by a shift in the focus of attention.
THE DIFFICULTIES OF SYNCHRONIC TRANSLATION OF AMERICAN POLITICAL DISCOURSE (BASED ON THE GENRE OF POLITICAL DEBATE)
Тhe article is devoted to translation errors made in 2020 during the synchronic translation of the political debates of US presidential candidates J. Biden and D. Trump. The relevance of the research is determined by the general need to identify the most diffi cult aspects of translating American political discourse, as well as the pragmatic characteristics of translated texts in the fi eld of political communication. The analysis of the studied material showed that the mistakes of translators can be divided into several types: lexical and grammatical errors and errors related to ignorance of culturally specifi c concepts, incorrect translation of ethnic nominations and proper names, sеt expressions and slangisms. The article provides a qualitative and quantitative analysis of translation errors. Translators often have diffi culty communicating specifi c terminology and realities correctly. Incorrect literal translation of terms, sеt expressions, and jargon occurs in almost 40 % of the total number of errors. These statistics emphasize the importance of detailed knowledge of specialized political vocabulary to prevent incorrect translations.
IRONY IN RUSSIAN-SPEAKING IT COMMUNITIES
Тhe article considers the use of irony in Russian-speaking online communities devoted to the topic of information technology. As the sources of the material for this study, thematic network portals and communities for IT specialists were used, such as: the Habr portal, VKontakte groups “Typical Programmer” and “Data Science”, “Terabit: IT-Technologies” telegram channel, etc. The paper analyzes verbal and paraverbal means of creating irony, as well as the functions performed by irony in the texts. The study has revealed that the means of creating irony comprise metaphor, understatement, antiphrasis, exploitation of non-trivial lexical compatibi lity, absurdization, contrast of propositions, use of intertextual connections, innuendos, lituratives and erratives. Irony performs phatic function, persuasive function, the function of expression of the author’s attitude and the function of creating emotional closeness with the addressee. It is concluded that ironic tonality is rather typical for Russian-language texts dedicated to information technologies, as well as that the functions of irony in the IT community in general coincide with the functions of irony in other professional communities. In general, irony is used to harmonize communication. This is contrary to the generally accepted representation, according to which irony in its classic form does not help to improve communication, since it implies the detachment of the speaker. This contradiction is eliminated in two ways: either by the recognition that sometimes the communicative stra tegy with signs characteristic to irony has in fact the nature of humour, or the recognition that irony can ensure the harmonization of communication, since ironic statements containing criticism of certain phenomena are meant to strengthen reader’s solidarity with the author, as they signal the coincidence of the of the author’s and the audience’s system of values and the commonality of their worldviews.
PRINCIPLES OF IDEOGRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF PRECEDENT PHENOMENA (WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN DICTIONARIES AND THESAURI)
Тhe article focuses on the principles of describing precedent phenomena in dictionaries with an ideographic/conceptual structure or combining explanatory (explanatory-encyclopaedic) and ideographic approa ches to the organisation and description of the vocabulary. The grounds for attributing a lexicographic work to the dictionaries of precedent phenomena, as well as the logic of the ideographic organisation of the vocabulary units, the structure and content of the rubrics of dictionaries of precedent phenomena are studied. The study involves dictionary material in English and Russian. The analysis of theoretical sources and dictionaries has shown some discrepancies in the use of terms nominating precedence and the lexicographic form of dictionaries of precedent phenomena accepted in Russian and English linguistic and lexicographic traditions. The notions of precedence, precedent phenomenon, etc., distinguished in Russian linguistics, can be compared with the notions of allusion, reminiscence, paraphrase, quotation, intertextual metaphor in English-language scientifi c literature and dictionaries. The ideographic approach is implemented in the works called dictionaries, thesauri (both in the English and Russian traditions), ideographic, thematic, semantic dictionaries (in the Russian tradition). Ideographicity is manifested at the level of dictionary macrostructure, where head units are presented within conceptual or thematic fi elds (rarely with more than one level of categorisation), and/or microstructure – through references to conceptually or thematically similar units. The study pays special attention to the approaches adopted to describe the cultural, etymological and pragmatic aspects of precedent phenomena characterisation. The approaches used in English and Russian dictionaries reveal an eff ort to highlight the axiological nature and intertextuality of precedent names and statements. Defi nitions contain an element of interpretation, indications of objects or situations that can be named or characterised by a given precedent unit. The units are identifi ed as key cultural signs, symbols and standards. Dictionary entries (rubrics) contain verbal illustrations selected mostly from secondary texts (except for author’s dictionaries), which makes it possible to assess the precedent status of the described units. Some dictionaries take into account the associative perceptions of precedent phenomena as components of linguoculture, demonstrating their cultural functionality and allowing to establish their role in the formation of the identity of the linguocultural community.
DISCURSIVE TACTIC OF CONCESSION IN ETHNIC STAND-UP COMEDY (DRAWING ON ENGLISH PERFORMANCES OF ASIAN COMEDIANS)
Тhe article examines the role of strategic discourse planning in stand-up comedy performances concerning ethnical jokes and delivered by Asian comedians for American audience. This is the fi rst time the performances quoted have been analysed, whilst a discourse of this type has never been studied within the framework of strategic theory of speech acts. The research is done in line with pragmatic theory of discourse for the stand-up performance is viewed by the author as a distinguished type of speech production activity functioning in the context of a specifi c communicative situation. Tag mapping, discourse analysis and intent analysis constitute the backbone of the methodology. The article seeks to prove the strategic nature of concession viewed as a tactic of discourse production in stand-up performances. The author pin downs the speech moves that eff ectuate the tactic of concession in the discourse of this type. The research focuses on male and female Asian comedians who have been born in or migrated to the USA, but preserved their national culture and include their cultural background into their stand-up performances delivered for western audiences. The research material has been selected through multiple sampling. Analysing the discourse of performances, the author underpins the causal settings of the concession, classifi es the speech moves that eff ectuate the tactic of concession on the basis of their pragmatic and intentional components, and studies the examples of concession in the considered stand-up performances. Speech moves eff ectuating concession include a comedian belittling oneself as an Asian person, their cultural background / their culture; a concession following a joke taken negatively / ignored by the audience; a concession to save the audience’s face; a concession to justify comedian’s joke / opinion which he believes the audience might not approve of. The author distinguishes between strategic and subordinate intentions in comedian’s speech moves. The article in question is part of a more extensive research of tactics implemented in the ethnic discourse of stand-up comedians. It showcases the potential of this research area for advancement of linguistic theories of humour and pragmatic studies.
MARKEME ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL ‘PRISONER OF HEAVEN’ BY CARLOS RUIZ ZAFÓN
Тhe method of markemic text analysis is based on the fact that the content component of the text is represented by the author's attitude, which determines the choice and frequency of words in the text, which is the resultant of two patterns: objective – linguistic and subjective – authorial. The markemes reveal the most important themes in the author's work and provide information about his artistic world. This method of separating thematically neutral vocabulary from thematically labeled vocabulary allows you to take into account the informative value of each word against the background of all the words presented in the text of the novel. The purpose of the study is a comprehensive analysis of a work of Spanish literature, the novel "Prisoner of Heaven" by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. According to the results of the markeme analysis, the dominant text is the markem circunstancias ‘circumstances’, and the vice-dominant is the markeme intelectualidad ‘intelligence, intellectuality'. The third markeme, is condiciones ‘conditions, circumstances'. Semantic analysis of markemes showed that the fundamental markemes expressing fundamental concepts dominate in the novel "Prisoner of Heaven" – 58 %. They are followed by mental-perceptual markemes related to the mind and perception of the world – 24 %. The specifi c feature of the genre of magical realism is the artistic use of elements of fi ction along with the obligatory presence of features of easily identifi able historical reality. This fact could explain the predominance of markemes that characterize both the fundamental concepts and the person’s mental and perceptual processes in the novel "Prisoner of Heaven" by K.R. Safón,. Qualitative markemes that characterize human qualities are in third place – 8 %, and emotional markemes that characterize a person's emotional state are in fourth place – 6 %. Moral and ethical issues that characterize moral values are in fi fth place – 4 %.
Augmentatives as suffix forms of Russian nouns
The article presents an analysis of augmentative forms (augmentatives) of Russian nouns, selected from dictionaries and the National Corpus of the Russian language in terms of their formation. Augmentative suffixes do not change the part of speech of the generating word. So it allows us to consider augmentatives as suffixally marked forms of a noun. The article proves that the augmentative is an element of the category of noun dimension, consisting of 3 grammes. And it is closely related to the category of expressiveness and diminutiveness. An analysis of dimensional paradigms is given, potential forms are identified and cases of defectiveness of the paradigm are discussed, as well as errors in the markup of augmentatives in the National Corpus of the Russian language, due solely to the semantic approach. Morphologically expressed augmentatives imply the presence of morphologically expressed diminutives in the language. The defectiveness of the paradigm is minimal. Most cases of defectiveness are associated with the absence of diminutive forms. The main reason for defectiveness is seen in semantics, or rather, in the inability to combine the lexical meaning and grammatical semantics of diminutiveness. As a rule, the suffix -isch-, forms prototypical augmentatives. The suffix -in- is more often used to form words of a mixed nature – having both augmentative and evaluative meanings. Other suffixes are few and form mostly expressive forms. The material also reveals examples of morphemic homonymy of the suffixes -isch- and -in-. Augmentatives are forms, not new words, and the category of augmentativity itself is grammatical, as it demonstrates the obligatory presence of a formant in a marked member of the paradigm. In addition, augmentatives reflect the most important problems of grammar: the distinction between morphology and word formation, form formation and inflection, as well as the interaction of the rational and the emotional in the language.
Russian language and languages of the Russian Federation
THE TITLE AS A REFLECTION OF THE CONTENT OF AN ANIMATED FILM
Аnalyzing the functional potential of an animated fi lm on a natural science topic as a means of forming, structuring and re-structuring a picture of the world of subjects in a specifi c cultural space allows us to describe the step-by-step development of scientifi cally signifi cant information by children, expressed in terminological ways adopted in a specifi c linguistic culture. A comprehensive meaningful, formal and functional analysis of the ways of linguistic expression of information, which are subsequently inevitably in demand by each recipient in his future life, reveals the natural nature of the choice of ways of objectifi cation of information by means of cultural codes – verbal and non–verbal – and also shows the dynamics of quantitative and qualitative changes in the worldview of the subject of cognition and communication of a certain age category. This primarily concerns the choice of syntactic structure, the communicative type of sentence serving as the title to the cartoon, and the primary or secondary means of nominating a certain concept that is key to the content of the corresponding fi lm. When studying the relationship between the way a message is verbalized, the psycho-cognitive and socio-cognitive features of a certain age group of children are taken into account as the headline, which makes it possible to trace fairly stable correlations between the means of objectifying information new to the subject of cognition, the nature of the communicative and cognitive tasks being solved, and the reconfi guration of information in the worldview as a result of replenishment, enrichment and diff erentiation of knowledge structures that form a picture of the subject’s world. The reasons for the preference for secondary nominative means (words with fi gurative meanings, phraseological phrases, precedent phenomena, etc.) in cartoons for primary school children are revealed. There is a desire to harmonize the ways in which a subject obtains knowledge about a certain physical phenomenon from personal experience, on the one hand, and knowledge conveyed in a cartoon purposefully according to the logic of the relevant scientifi c fi eld, on the other.
verbal and non-verbal means of objectifying information about the world
FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF MODELING DICTIONARIES IN MODERN LEXICOGRAPHY
Тhe article is devoted to the study of English dictionary models in modern lexicographic research. The main stages of creating monolingual and bilingual reference books and the use of corpus data in the process of modeling dictionaries are studied. Similarities in the process of creating printed and electronic dictionaries are highlighted, such as planning of the reference work, determining the planned structure, work on designing mega-, macro- and microstructure of dictionaries, etc. A distinctive feature of modeling an electronic publication is the preparation of special software where dictionary materials will be stored. Currently special attention is paid to the needs and demands of the user. As part of potential audience needs study lexicographers use a special tool – user surveys as a preparatory stage in the creation of a dictionary of a certain type. Analysis of the audience's responses to the questions allows lexicographers to formulate principles of organizing mega-, macro- and microstructure of dictionaries, taking into account the needs of the potential users. A special place in lexicographic research belongs to the association experiment, the results of which (an additional label to lexical units) can be used by lexicographers when modeling a dictionary entry. The creation of terminological dictionaries is gaining separate popularity in practical lexicography. New branches of knowledge arise leading to the appearance of new terms that need to be included in dictionaries. Such reference works are traditionally published in printed form, but at present a large number of electronic special editions appear. Diff erent linguistic and mathematical methods are used in the process of modeling such dictionaries.
Semantics of explicit communicative demonstrativeness
The article discusses the phenomenon of communicative demonstrativeness. The purpose of the study is to defi ne the concept of explicit communicative demonstrativeness and to identify the linguistic means of its expression. An interdisciplinary approach and the method of psycholinguistic analysis of the communicants' speech output are used. The material for the analysis was the statements of the participants from the 2012–2023 television interviews. It is established that explicit communicative demonstrativeness is a tonality of interaction, which is distinguished by a vivid and direct representation of the speaker's own image, exaggeration of his important qualities, emphasis on the prevailing emotion, actualized at all language levels and implemented in speech products through the use of a variety of linguistic and non-linguistic means. The means of this tonal variety, by which the narrative producer maintains his image, are: hyperbolic tropes, cliches, borrowed words, positive epithets, the pronoun «everything» and the adjective «anyone» with a generalizing meaning (ostentatious communicative personality); affected verbal behavior, direct gaze, speech with pressure, pausing, vowel predominance [u], [yu], fricayives [sh] [shch] [ch], sonorants [m], [n], [r], a series of rhetorical questions, phraseological units, words with negative connotation, proverbs (dominant communicative personality); active use of gestures, direct eye contact, rapid speech, expressive syntax, speech strategies, references to an authoritative source and contradictions, reiteration (argumentative communicative personality); hyperbolic tropes, negative connotation, substandard expressive means, obscene vocabulary, anaphora, intensifying particles, rhetorical questions, sarcasm, irony, pun, high screeching timbre of voice, frequent use of vowel combinations [u] – [a], [y] – [a], [o] – [a] and consonants [s] – [r] to rise above the addressee, the speech strategy of humiliation, rhetorical questions, exclamatives (confl ict communicative personality). The results obtained can be used in the course of semiotics and psycholinguistics.
Subtitles as an element of modern film language
the article is devoted to the analysis of subtitling as one of the most popular translation techniques in cinema, which has its own specifi cs and obeys specifi c regulatory requirements for individual subspecies of audiovisual translation (AVP), such as dubbing, voice over (voix off), audiodescription, supratitling. Understood as an abbreviated translation of the fi lm dialogue, refl ecting the main content of the latter and accompanying in the form of printed text the visual series of the fi lm in its original version, subtitling poses a dilemma for the translator to give preference to the immutable restrictions imposed by the screen and the requirement to reduce the verbal component of the fi lm in order to save language resources in the subtitle, or the subjective choice of the subtiter deciding which text will appear on the screen. The material for interdisciplinary analysis was the documentary «Chelyuskin’s Odyssey» (USSR, 1934), the cinematic essay «Poto and Cabango» (USA, 1979), the fantasy comedy «Les Deux mondes» (France, 2007), the crime drama «Man on Fire» (USA, 2004) and the thril- ler «Night Watch» (Russia, 2004). It is concluded that in modern cinema, subtitles clearly act as an element of the fi lm language, contributing to the creation of an additional aesthetic effect, which is due to the use of new tech- nologies depending on the specifi cs of the fi lm as a subtitle carrier, and can be subtitles-texts, subtitles-pictures and subtitles-objects. Subtitles-texts perform their traditional function by transmitting foreign speech of the fi lm characters in the language of the receiving culture. When using a subtitle picture, the transmitted meaning is laid not only in the word, but also in the location of it, which contributes to an adequate distribution of the viewer's attention, directing it to the element that seems most important at the moment. Subtitles-objects act as a means of communication, as independent characters of the fi lm participating in cinematic action.
Cognitive conflict in english political polycode text
We discuss a variety of approaches to the notion of polycode texts and their possible typologies, which exist in modern linguistics. Yet another object of discussion is formed by the diffi culties, which arise in connection with polycode texts of various types and their analysis. Polycode texts present particular diffi culties when we try to include this format into text analysis. It gives us grounds to single out key features of polycode texts, which make them different from traditional text format. In far general terms we suggest singling out genres with the predominance of the arts component, political and propaganda component, advertising component, private component. Undoubtedly, each of the trends may in its turn include genre variations of its own dependent on the aim of creation, expected functions, pragmatic effect, means of circulation (TV, Internet, print, etc.), environment, geography, and other factors. As one of possible methodological decisions we suggest determining the cognitive confl ict when the artistic effect is achieved because two systems have clashed and created a new product with a certain degree of unexpected effect. Various forms which a cognitive confl ict may take in a polymodal text are undoubtedly connected with the genre, textual functions, and pragmatic effect. Further on we describe three types of cognitive confl ict in polycode texts. These are the confl ict of verbal and graphic components; the confl ict built on linguistic creativity and pun; the confl ict between a situation in the caricature and a real state of matters. Barack Obama and Rishi Sunak cartoons serve as an example. Methods of investigation are formed on the basis of linguocultural and cognitive discourse approaches combined with methods of structural semantics. The results of the research in question contribute to the investigations of political metaphors, text pragmatics. Some results may also be of interest for scholars whose professional sphere is linked to cross-cultural, linguo-cultural and political studies.
Multimodal markers of experienced gender inequality in oral Spanish-language discourse
The article is devoted to the problem of identifying multimodal markers of experiencing gender inequality in oral Spanish-language discourse about feminism. The relevance of the issue is due to the spread of gender studies, as well as the appearance of a number of works that focus on multimodal markers of various linguistic and non-linguistic processes. The study is characterized by scientifi c novelty due to its multimodal focus, implying the ability to diagnose the specifi cs of the experience of gender inequality by Hispanic men and women through multichannel markers. The purpose of the work is to identify multimodal markers of the experience of gender inequality in the Spanish-language discursive space and describe their gender specifi city. Videos of the Mexican program “Sororidad” with a total duration of 150 minutes, as well as narrative video interviews with native Spanish speakers from Latin America with a total duration of 160 minutes are used as material for analysis. The work was carried out using the multimodal analysis method using the ELAN multimedia data tagging system. In the course of multichannel labeling, 4 layers with an independent markup type were selected: "Words", "Gestures", "Mimicry", "Intonation". When discussing abstract problems related to feminism, women are dominated by limiting gestures and increasing the volume of their voices, while men prefer to use consolation gestures, enumeration intonation, and the linking word como. When discussing the negative phenomena associated with feminism, women frequently use the question tag ¿no? and limiting gestures, while in the multimodal behavior of men discursive markers of expressing personal assessment, consolation gestures and an acceleration of the tempo of speech predominate. When discussing personal experiences associated with feminism, women tend to increase the volume of their voices and use emphatic intonation, while men tend to lengthen vowels and use the “look down” facial expression. In all the situations women use various and often repeated mimic actions, intonational phenomena and manual. In female discourse, such chains of multimodal markers are defi ned as 1) the noun mujer + the “quotation mark” gesture; 2) the gesture “presses the hand(s) to the chest” + the intonation marker “raising the tone of the voice”. In male discourse: 1) gesture "quotation mark" + intonation marker "intonation of emphasis"; 2) gesture “points with a straight hand to the side” + intonation marker “increasing the volume of the voice”. The possibility of expanding the research material, as well as implementing a deeper analysis of the phonetic layer of speech using the Praat software, is promising.
Official secondary nominations in the modern toponymicon of Germany
The article analyzes the official secondary nominations of German toponyms, which are understood as additional designations to the names of cities approved at the official level. These units form a separate layer of toponymic vocabulary. In the status of official, additional names of localities receive the right to function in official communication, in particular, in the field of intercity communication, an important element of which are road signs. Additional designations indicated on road signs are perceived as an integral part of the official name of a geographical object, forming the most signifi cant part of the semantics after the direct address-index value of the official name of the topoobject. Based on the analysis of the legislative acts of the federal states of Germany, the main types of motivating signs for additional toponyms used officially are identified. The authors draw attention to the fact that individual localities receive the same secondary nominations, since they have common features in the development of infrastructure, while others, on the contrary, acquire unique additional names. The first are the names associated with the administrative status; historical event; status of the resort city; centers of scientific and student life. The second group of motivations reflects the unique character of a topological object. A signifi cant number of additional names have an anthroponymic basis, since they are associated with the names of famous historical figures, inventors, cultural and artistic figures. Many cities and communities fix additional designations at the official level, reflecting the unique type of activity of the region, achievements in the field of science, geographical and natural features, traditional events in the field of culture and art. Thus, officially registered secondary nominations, forming a geocultural space, are the keepers of the historical and cultural memory of a particular locality. They accumulate not only linguistic, but also linguistic and cultural information.
The image of Berlin in the works of modern emigrant writers
The article considers the image of Berlin depicted in the German fiction by the writers who emigrated to Germany in the 90s of the 20th century. The article is aimed at considering the Berlin artistic image formed in the works of two emigrant writers V. Kaminer and C.-F. Banchu, at identifying the main parameters of "the city of Berlin" concept given by those authors and also at revealing the system of the oppositions that comprise a comprehensive image of Berlin, such as the city as an interaction and confrontation of Eastern and Western Europe cultures, their national specificity manifested in all spheres of human life and activities, especially in immigrants life, the features of metropolitan life, Berlin residents, both native city dwellers, emigrants and refugees, who are inseparable from the city and form its image. The research is also focused on the language tools that the authors choose to reproduce their associations and impressions. Some artistic images of Berlin acquire ironic connotations. The research findings show that the image of Berlin given by both authors consists of the same components. They refl ect the specific features of a particular city, its status, history and only its inherent features. The Berlin of Kaminer and Banchu is a city that is a refl ection not only of the narrow world of each individual, but also a refl ection of the world picture. At the same time, each of the writers offers their own vision of the object and uses various language tools, techniques and transformations.
Development of the language inclusivity as one of the mechanisms of the contemporary english vocabulary extension
The present study is devoted to the consideration of the tendency to development and incorporation of the inclusive language as a mechanism of the contemporary English language extension. The subject of the study comprises inclusive English lexis that is widely spread due to the western language policy aimed at universal promotion of verbal tolerance and inclusivity towards the representatives of various minorities. The choice of lexis is underpinned by the fact that rights and freedoms of the representatives of different minorities are currently considered from the political discourse perspective as an object of dispute between Democrats and Republicans. The aim of the study is to define peculiarities of the above mentioned lexis and the impact of relevant social tendencies on their appearance. The research materials include online editions of The Tennessean, The New York Times, Fox News, The Indian Express, Daily Mail and New York Post. The research methods are represented by semantic and word-formation analysis of the collected lexical material in view of the modern context. The conducted research either outlined the specifics of the inclusive lexis and the triggers to its appearance in language or underpinned the idea about close interconnection of language and relevant social tendencies. Firstly, it is noted that the semantic meaning of inclusion has extended since the beginning of XX century when it only was used to denote some peculiarities connected with disability. Now it also means the exclusion of any discrimination towards gender, ethnic and racial minorities. Secondly, the research made it possible to correlate the phenomenon of political correctness with the necessity to create inclusive language. Thirdly, the word-formation peculiarities of the considered inclusive lexemes include: absence of gender endings or their replacement with x component; replacement of different lexeme parts with x component (if there is no gender ending) so as to provoke necessary associations; exclusion of any man/woman, male/female, mother/father associations; creation of two component scientific analogs.
Hypothetical worlds of A. P. Babushkin through the prizm of a language game
К юбилею доктора филологических наук, профессора Воронежского университета, Почетного работника ВГУ, Анатолия Павловича Бабушкина.
About the historical lexicology of the Russian language by texts
Historical lexicology is an important area that helps to understand the processes occurring in language. Within this research, an experiment is conducted on the systematic stratification of the vocabulary of a text, aimed at studying the history of the lexical-semantic system of the Russian language. The goal of the experiment is to analyze which words belong to the core vocabulary of the language and which are peripheral. The article proposes specific methods and tools that allow implementing a parametric analysis of the vocabulary of the Russian language based on texts. These methods and tools make it possible to determine the most commonly used words, their contribution to the formation of the lexical system, and to identify words with the greatest semantic significance in the Russian language. They also allow us to understand how this lexical system has changed over time and infl uenced the development of the language. Parametric analysis of vocabulary by texts is based on the collection and analysis of textual material using computer tools and includes the measurement of the weight of lexico-semantic units according to the main parameters, namely: functional, syntagmatic, derivational (epidigmatic) and paradigmatic. Thanks to these methods and tools, it becomes possible to more accurately assess changes in the lexical system of the language and identify key moments in its development. Historical lexicology and parametric analysis of vocabulary by texts are important tools that help us better understand the language in its current development, as well as its evolution. These studies provide an opportunity to get deeper into the essence of language and its changes over time.
Visual metaphor in cinematographic prose by Dmitry Danilov
The article is devoted to the study of visual metaphor as one of the means of literary cinematography in Russian prose of the 21st century. The purpose of the article is to analyze the visual metaphor in the prose by Dmitry Danilov and determine its role in the structure of literary text. The research methodology includes structural, component and contextual analysis of visual metaphor. Linguistic analysis is based on the theory of metaphor developed by N. D. Arutyunova, and the typology of metaphors by Yu. N. Karaulov. As a result of the study, it was established that visual metaphors in Dmitry Danilov’s cinematic novel “Sasha, Hello!” can be classified according to formal expression into two types: pictorial metaphors and graphic metaphors. Both metaphors are based on an image in which visual metaphors should be considered as non-binary mental structures involved in the generation of figurative meanings. As the analysis of the material has shown, in Dmitry Danilov’s prose visual metaphors are one of the important elements that organize the writer’s idiomatic style. The key metaphor of Danilov’s work is “the world as cinema” and the subsequent metaphor “text as cinema”, which define a set of corresponding means of artistic expression that form the visual image. In the modern world, in which visual culture and, in particular, cinema occupy a dominant position, visual metaphor in writers’ texts becomes not only an expression of the author’s position or worldview, but also a refl ection of the linguistic culture of modern Russian speakers.
The terminological system of art history: eurysemy and polysemy in action
At present, there is every reason to assert that the development of broad-meaning and polysemy in Art History terminology has led to the problem of destructuring the Art History terminology. The relevance of this research lies in the appeal to modern problems of terminology, i. e. the distinction between everysemy and polysemy in Art History terminology. The purpose of this work is to determine the specificity of everysemy and polysemy in the Art History terminology system. In the article, the features of broad meaning and polysemy in Art History terminology are considered for the first time. The methods employed in this work include definitional analysis, onoma- and semasiological analyses, as well as contextual analysis. As a result of this study, common features of polysemy and broad meaning in Art History terminology are identified: polysemous and broad-meaning terms can function both in the terminology system of Art History and in other scientific terminology systems, and even in the general literary language. Often, the abstract character and a wide gradation of meaning, as well as the wide scope of the use of everysemic terms (beyond Art History) often lead to the determination of broad-meaning terms. Since many of the key concepts of Art History are currently devoid of their full meaning, the structure of the Art-Historical terminology system can be called partially destructurized. The development of the polysemy of Art History terms, on the contrary, enriches Art History terminology, and also testifies to the evolution of Art History as a scientific discipline. Terms that are ambiguous at the interdisciplinary level in Art History terminology acquire their unique meaning. Over time, the semantic volume of polysemous terms of Art History is supplemented by new denotations that are applicable only in Art History terminology. Thus, broad-meaning and polysemy have a directly opposite effect on the Art History terminology system: everysemic terms destabilize the hierarchy of the Art History term system, while polysemic terms lead to its development and emphasize the originality of the Art History language for special purposes.
Names of types of eating establishments: linguo-semiotic aspect
Significant changes are currently taking place in the terminology used to designate types of eating establishments (EE). However, linguistic studies of the names of types of EE are extremely scarce. The subject of this article is linguo-semiotic system "names of EE types" as a structural element of the restaurant signage in a resort town (Imeretinsky resort, Sochi). The objective of the study is to identify linguistic and semantic dynamics in the specified system as a linguocultural code that provides the processes of encoding and decoding signage information. Methods of semiotic and linguistic analysis were used in the work. At the first stage, a theoretical Basic Model of the linguo-semiotic system “names of ЕЕ types” was developed. The Basic Model presents the generally accepted meanings of traditional ЕE names as a system of paired differentiating features. At the second stage, a semiotic and linguistic analysis of practical material was carried out, aimed at identifying deviations from the basic model. As a result, we identified and systematized features of the formation of a new linguocultural code, manifested both at the level of the semantic structure (cultural codes) and at the level of the language code. Five Operating Models of nontypical ways of representing the meaning "type of ЕE" in a signage were built. There were identified 2 new, in comparison with the Basic Model, meanings which are being actualized in the semantic structure of new names of EE types. Conclusions were drawn about the connection of semantic and linguistic dynamics in the system of names of EE types with modern trends in eating culture. Promising directions for further research were outlined. The materials of the article can contribute to the development of the method of linguo-semiotic analysis and can also be applied in the field of marketing and creating an attractive image of a resort town.
Factors of developing lexical poetic connotations (the results of the psycholinguistic experiment)
The article studies the reasons for developing stylistic poetic connotations in lexical semantics. The relevance of the work is connected with the interest of modern linguistics in pragmatic components of meaning, on the one hand, and with the gap in understanding the evolutionary processes occurring in lyrical language, on the other. The study is based on the method of psycholinguistic experiment. The material for the work is represented by a wide range of the opinions of people interested in poetry; they suggest their understanding of the essence of lyrics. The considered language is English. At the first stage of the study the poetic vocabulary is compiled from the lexemes proposed by the respondents, it is later analysed on the basis of formal characteristics. This work allows us to reveal some leading poetic concepts and also define the extent to which words’ semantics is filled with poetic connotations. The obtained data are compared with the literary tradition of poetry. The results confirm the fact of the evolutionary instability inherent in lyrical language, in particular, the instability of connotative meanings. The second stage of the study is devoted to the identification and classification of poetry factors. Eight different grounds have been distinguished determining the functioning of poetic connotative meanings in words; moreover, some subgroups are also described using specifying parametric indicators. The chosen tactics of research helps to reveal some causes of poetry language evolution. The work contributes to the study of the interaction of language and thought, some aspects of stylistics; it also contributes to the development of modern complex methods for analyzing language phenomena, in particular, those ones characterized by a large degree of irrationality, for example, poetic creativity.
Heuristic potential of proverbs in the linguistic picture of the world description (based on the data from the russian and german languages)
The article deals with the linguistic picture of the world in a comparative aspect on the material of the paremiological fund of Russian and German languages. The choice of material for the analysis is due to the ability of proverbs to reflect the stereotypes of the consciousness of a particular people, patterns, norms of behavior, as well as moral values. The described units carry a large semantic load, clearly showing the dominant culture. As a manifestation of the accumulative function of language, proverbs summarize the centuries-old life experience of a particular nation and form the life and behavior rules, proverbs have a heuristic function in describing the linguistic picture of the world of a particular nation. The empirical base consists of data obtained by continuous sampling and lexical-semantic analysis of the presented units. The units representing “poverty” and “wealth” are considered as absolute opposites, describing the living conditions of people of the two groups, appearance, impunity of the rich and their injustice towards the poor. Speaking about personal qualities, Russian folk sayings emphasize the resourcefulness and vivacity of the mind of poor people. In German proverbs rich people are characterized as very stupid one. The results of the work are the conclusions that for the Russian mentality spiritual values are important, incalculable in monetary terms. Thus, friendship, love, happiness, honesty and the opportunity to live come to the fore, and material goods come to the second. Giving the poor exclusively positive qualities determines the fact that such people in Russia have always been treated with pity and understanding. German linguistic culture evaluates the lack of money negatively, sharply condemned and wastefulness. Great respect is not wealth as a final result, but the process itself, the ability to earn it and multiply.
Historical dynamics of meaning of a discourse marker (case study of the marker inache govorya / in other words)
The paper analyzes historical changes of semantic, syntactic and pragmatic features of the discourse marker “inache govorya” (“in other words”). The research is based on the data of the Russian National Corpus. The analysis of the main subcorporus shows the evolution of this discourse marker. In modern Russian “inache govorya” marks the reorganization of the statement.
Functions of modal components in german fiction
The object of the current article is modal components in German, its subject is their functions in German fiction. The aim of the article is to describe functions of modal structures in the fiction texts and their influence on the common mood of the text. Text fragments from German fiction are used as the source of data for the study. The main methods used in the research are descriptive method and textual analysis. It was shown that modal structures group with evaluative words building a modal-evaluative frame of the utterance which creates emotional-evaluative background of the whole text and brings the reader from the real world into the world of illusion. The components of unreal modality can be used in the text to provide an effective description of some details, e.g. to describe the characters of the novel, their deep emotions or psychological atmosphere. If the whole text is an implicit comparison (textual metaphor), the indicative sentences encode unreal modality. On the contrary, the sentences in the Subjunctive mood allow bringing closer imaginary events to the reality. It is shown that the epistemic and evidential structures as well as sentences in the Subjunctive mood create the image of the author and the characters. In combination with evaluation elements they contribute to the description of the inner world of the author as a creator of an artistic work, they reflect the writer’s values and show their attitude to the characters.
Variability of terminological definition in english linguistic and innovative technical discourse
A large number of modern humanitarian studies are devoted to the problem of discourse and the consideration of linguistic phenomena in their speech manifestation. In particular, the scientific discourse as a sphere of term formation is of interest for study. To date, the issue of terminological and definitional variability has been relevant in a number of studies, but until now a comparative analysis of the specificity and causes of variability in different types of discourse has not been carried out. The purpose of this study is to consider the English-language linguistic and innovative-technical types of discourse as a special environment for term formation and to identify the characteristic features of definitional variability in both types of discourse. The article analyzes the dictionary and contextual definitions of the most common terms in the English-language linguistic and innovative-technical types of discourse. In order to achieve the most effective results, the descriptive and comparative-stylistic method, as well as the method of contextual and stylistic analysis, were chosen. Definitions of terms were considered in universal and specialized explanatory dictionaries, as well as in the texts of scientific papers. Definitional variability is observed in both types of discourse. Differences are identified between vocabulary and contextual terminological definitions, as well as between vocabulary entries in universal and specialized dictionaries. In addition, the specific features of variability in the analyzed types of discourse are described. Conclusions are drawn about the causes of variability in the English-language linguistic and innovative-technical types of discourse. The author also outlines the perspectives of research.
Analysis of linguistic and stylistic features of the english postmodern novel
The term «postmodernism» has recently acquired new connotations in connection with the increased interest in this phenomenon. There are several reasons for this interest. Firstly, the influence of postmodernism on the language system and consciousness plays a key role in shaping the picture of the world, and secondly, postmodernism is characterized by the union of cultural codes and texts of different eras, which allows to expand previously outdated ideas about the world. No less important factor is the change of traditional concepts of integrity, completeness, structure of the text and a new view on the formation of criteria and norms of the text. These factors occupy a central position in postmodernism and create an unsystematic representation of the literary direction. This article is devoted to the analysis of linguistic and stylistic features of the English postmodern novel by the material of I. McEwan’s work «Atonement». Postmodern novel is a kind of literary direction, which has an unconventional approach to the construction of literary text, which is manifested in the use of various stylistic and linguistic techniques. Unlike other literary trends, postmodernism recreates the modern picture of the world with its cultural and everyday features. Consideration of the linguistic and stylistic specificity of the postmodern novel reveals the characteristic features of postmodernism not only as a literary direction, but also as a linguistic one. The study of the linguistic and stylistic features of the postmodern novel allows us to identify the basic principles of construction of a work of fiction, particularly deconstruction, intertextuality, hypertextuality, irony, multi-level text, language play, pluralism, uncertainty. These principles are the basis of any postmodern novel and represent a kind of symbiosis of the author’s concept aimed at interaction with the reader.
Phrase and sentence premodifiers in modern english
This paper is devoted to the study of phrase and sentence attributes, which represent a relatively new phenomenon in modern English and have not been thoroughly analysed. Their use demonstrates current trends in language development, such as the desire for economical expression and emotionally marked description of the situation. The studied complex syntactic constructions with nonstandard spelling are peculiar units of indirect nomination of a characteristic, reflecting the individual, subjective emotional perception of objects and situations. The corpus data obtained from modern English fiction reveals the ways to complicate premodifying combinations when the attributive function is performed by phrases or even sentences. In the course of the study, the main structural-semantic properties and combinatory features of the constructions under consideration are studied. The dominant type is coordinative phrase premodifiers, which realize synonymous or antonymous relations. They have various degrees of stability and can be fixed and grammatically free, expressing the author’s attitude towards the subject. The number of contexts with sentence premodifiers is significantly inferior to the number of phrase attributes. It is shown that they represent a certain analogue of the character’s direct speech and allow the author to convey the feelings of the hero more accurately and expressively, since imaginary words of a person are introduced into the description of the emotional state.
Pragmalinguistic means of constructing the common past in british political speech
This study is a part of the research which focuses on the study of discursive construction of British national identity. This article aims to reveal what pragmalinguistic tools are used to construct the common past as a component of the identity in British Brexit-discourse. The data include speeches by British politicians retrieved from the official websites of the campaigns “Vote Leave” and “Britain Stronger in Europe”. In terms of methodology, the study draws on techniques of critical discourse analysis. As a result, two key strategies of constructing the common past are identified. These strategies include the strategy of grouping countries and the strategy of distancing countries. The common past is constructed along different lines the Remainers and the Brexiteers. In the speeches by the Remainers the common past is constructed as shared with Europe, whereas in the Brexiteers’ speeches it is constructed as belonging to the British nation only. The range of pragmalinguistic resources used within these strategies includes references to significant historic events and dates, lexemes with temporal semantics and the semantics of unity, grammatical markers of the past, metaphors and idioms, inclusive noun phrases, lexical markers of positive and negative evaluation. The prospects for research include the expansion of the data and the diachronic study of the discursive construction of identity in the British political discourse.
English-language marketplaces as the field of popular legal discourse (on the material of the USA bankruptsy law)
The author studies a contemporary English-language field of popular legal discourse called marketplace websites. He also analyzes the features of the texts from such sources. The websites are classified by the type of communication between the texts` authors and readers. A number of legal marketplace websites are analyzed from the point of it`s textual content. The purpose of the research is to study legal marketplace websites and their texts and outline the features of such websites discourse. In the course of the research different methods were used such as analysis and synthesis, comparative method, constructive and distributive methods. The author also paid attention to the convenience of searching for the necessary legal texts within the websites. Some of the sites are not effective from the point of arranging the texts by topic, subtopic and areas of law. This makes finding the required information and communicating more difficult. Fifty texts from three websites were analyzed in the course of the research. Several texts are examined in this article to illustrate the purposes and language features of the texts. The author describes a number of characteristics which give the texts a special discursive character. Marketplace websites contain texts which are useful and accessible for internet users. A particular level of commercialization of such discourse was discovered. The results of the research can be applied in the course of writing popular legal texts, arranging websites content and conducting other research. The author made a number of conclusions about convenience of communication between lawyers and lay people via marketplace websites and also about it`s specific discourse.