Vol 18, No 2 (38) (2023)
Articles
The curse genre of ’Kargys’ in the Kazakh language: Is the belief in the magical power of the word still preserved?
Abstract
The speech genre of curse analyzed in the article belongs to the most ancient genres of oral communication in Kazakh culture. It is based on belief in the magical function of the word, in the ability to bring harm and evil to the cursed with the help of magical powers. Kargys is a pattern, its stable verbal formulas are preserved in the linguistic consciousness of the modern native speakers, despite the fact that the archaic foundations of the pattern may not be fully understood by them. The aim of the article is to analyze the aspects of the propositional structure of the genre of curse in the Kazakh language, to typologize the nature of harm and evil inflicted on the addressee, to identify some cultural, linguistic and pragmatic features of the speech genre. For example, for the feasibility and strength of the influence of the kargys, the status of the one who curses and the one who is cursed is important – the age, the family, the social status. The objectification of the verbal predicate in the kargys is significant and fundamental, even the contracted forms preserve it. The actants in the structure of the proposition of curse are optional; their elimination is carried out on various semantic and pragmatic grounds. The Kazakh language provides formulas for counteracting the destructive genre of curse, including the formula for depriving the force of the curse and the formula for returning it to the one who curses.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):110-117
110-117
Speech-genre representation of the food tradition (based on Vologda dialects)
Abstract
Modern dialectology develops in compliance with anthropocentric linguistics and it is a polyparadigmatic scientific field in which one of the leading positions is currently occupied by the communicative direction. The peculiarities of the genre nature of the dialect text is one of the topical directions of communicative dialectology. The article presents the study of the speech-genre representation of the food tradition which existed in the past and currently exists in the villages of the Vytegorsky and Totemsky districts in Vologda Oblast. The article shows that the main forms of representation of the food tradition in dialect speech include such genres as a story-memoir, a genre of wining and dining, a culinary recipe. It is noted that there are no clear boundaries between the genres, while communicating we may include one genre into another, as well as move from one genre to another. The main form of keeping food tradition is the genre of culinary recipe. We analyzed the peculiarities of the dialect text of the culinary recipe on the basis of a sample of recipe contexts, which are the core of the local food tradition: recipes for bakery products, drinks and dairy products. We also identified and analyzed the communicative features of the dialect text of the recipe (the principle of figurativeness, the priority of procedural knowledge, the predominantly collective image of the recipe’s author). We established the factors influencing the completeness and representativeness of the culinary recipe, among them the most important ones are extralinguistic (transformation of everyday realities of the modern village) and individual factors (the age of the informant, the ability of the informant to be a good storyteller).
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):118-125
118-125
Article Hedges vs boosters: Communicative mitigation and enhancement in the genre of dissertation review
Abstract
The article presents the results of the cross-disciplinary research which focuses on the two types of discourse markers – hedges and boosters and their use in Russian official dissertation reviews. The study is based on reviews of official opponents and external reviewers of PhD theses on linguistics, literary criticism, history, physics, chemistry and medicine. The reviews were borrowed from the online pages of dissertation councils of Russian universities. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data proved the gradual nature of hedging and boosting and showed that hedges and boosters frequency depends on the discipline and the author of the review’s gender. It is shown that in the reviews of humanities scholars hedges prevail over boosters, whereas in natural sciences hedges are more frequent. In all disciplines excepting physics men use hedges and boosters more often than women. Moreover, boosters demonstrate a greater dependence in their frequency on both the discipline and gender whereas the hedges appear more universal in their use in all the reviews under study.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):126-131
126-131
Religious and philosophical dialogues in Dostoevsky’s novel Demons
Abstract
Philosophical dialogue as a genre generated by ancient culture has become an integral part of F. M. Dostoevsky’s novels. There it acquired a distinctly religious character. In this sense, the theory of M. M. Bakhtin about polyphonic dialogue in Dostoevsky’s novels does not allow to fully explain its (dialogue’s) mystical-religious content, and even more so the hidden author’s modality – Christian assessment (“pointing finger, passionately raised”). Moreover, the question of faith in the polyphonic dialogue is not raised at all. Bakhtin confines himself to the dialogue of the “speech activities” of the subjects, the characters’ minds “in the realm of the word”, “the image of the idea” as a “living event”. The article highlights a special religious and philosophical dialogue in Dostoevsky’s novel on the example of Demons. It is proved that the characters of such a dialogue philosophize, i.e. act not only as those with external, effective, psychological characteristics, but as spokesmen for a certain intellectual activity, an established concept of life, which they usually translate into philosophemes, mental images. Religious-philosophical dialogue is also present when conducted at the level of metaphysical depths, with a creed, a manifestation of religious feeling, when the question of the Absolute is being resolved. Deep drama, appeal to the eternal problems of existence, the ultimate expansion of the artistic space of the topics, the subjects of dialogue limit the plot peculiarities and the characters’ details. There is a feeling of a direct connection between the two minds in the darkest corners of the man’s spirit: “Here the devil is fighting with God, and the battlefield is the hearts of people” (XIV, 100).
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):132-137
132-137
From medical dialogue to existential conflict: The dynamics of speech genres in A. P. Chekhov “Enemies”
Abstract
The article presents the analysis of the chains of speech genres in A. P. Chekhov’s short story “Enemies”. It is argued that the speech genres which formalize the social relationships of the main characters of the story lead to an understanding of the concept of the work, as well as reveal the essence of the title of the story. It is noted that the verbal interaction of the main characters of the narrative is a system of interconnected speech genres. The article describes the speech genres that have developed in the context of the situation of verbal communication between a doctor and a patient, specifically the speech genre of a medical complaint forming the core of institutional discourse, as well as speech genres that go beyond the core area: speech genres of pleading, refusal, appeal, silence, unburdening the soul, payment for medical services. It is stated that integrating into the medical discourse, these speech genres form a functional unity with it. The author concludes that the speech genres of medical discourse reproduce the process of professional speech interaction and qualify both individual and socially conditioned qualities of the originator character and the recipient character, as well as the situation of their conversation. Invective speech genres of accusations and insults inherent in ordinary (non-institutional) discourse are characterized as conflicting speech genres indicating the status-role degradation of institutional relations. Special attention is paid to the speech genres of pleading and the speech genre of the unburdening the soul, the peculiarities of their functioning and language aspects in connection with the general cultural values and traditions of Russian spiritual culture. The article also specifies the role of the author’s remarks in the description of communicative situations.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):138-145
138-145
Poetics of human interaction in K. D. Ushinsky’s essay “A Travel to Volhov”
Abstract
Publicistics in all variety of its genres is traditionally perceived as a shaky boundary between the fictional imaginative interaction and interaction lit by the worldly life experience of the author / narrator and equipped by factual authenticity. In this connection it seems worthwhile to introduce into genre studies most meaningful fictional and publicistic publications of different (including really distant from us) cultural-historical periods, where one can find abundant data which will help us understand poetics of human interaction. My goal is to demonstrate one of the texts which extremely seldom attracts professional philological attention and which may be a source of genre observations, focused on the aesthetical (and ethical as well) component of spoken dialogue discourse. K. D. Ushinsky’s essay “A Travel to Volhov” (1852) is a remarkable collection of numerous specimens of Russian colloquial culture, casting light on the poetics of sympathetic and kindly human interaction which we inherit regardless of all followed global historic transformations. The essay contains many valuable specimens of Russian folk speech genre culture in their historically specific every-day interpretations and actualizations. The subject of our analytical research is genres of farewell scenes at the wharf, occasional confidential talks, arguments coming to agreement, unmalicious and amusing bickering, friendly mockery and mimicry, warm-hearted inquiries, public contrition, pilgrim’s confession, etc.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):146-154
146-154
Changes in informative and analytical genres of modern media
Abstract
The article discusses the main trends of changes in mass media communication based on informative and analytical genres of the modern press and electronic media. The research is performed within interpretative discourse analysis and is based on quantitative analysis of the data. The authors of the article claim that in the modern information age, traditional media are no longer the most influential sphere of communication. The media are forced to give way to social networks that are far from complying with the norms of the Russian language. In conditions of such fierce competition, traditional mass media have to adapt to the modern reader in order to meet their needs and expectations. This leads to the fact that their genre and stylistic appearance is gradually changing. The most important changes taking place in modern media are the convergence of genres, visualization of information, interactivity, democratization (which is expressed not only at the linguistic, but also at the extralinguistic level: in changing the nature of the information conveyed in the media and cooperation with non-professionals when creating mass media product) and the intellectualization of language.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):155-165
155-165
Genre variety of literary materials on the pages of the newspaper “Saratovsky Vestnik” of the 1910s
Abstract
The article deals with the newspaper genres, used for literary materials in the newspaper “Saratovsky Vestnik” (Saratov Herald) in 1910–1913. This is the time when Saratov’s newspaper culture is taking shape: the structure of the newspaper page, its layout and arrangement of materials, the link between the visual range and the genre palette. The Vestnik features the genres of newspaper advertisement, as well as chronicledocumentary articles. The preference of fact over commentary testifies to the high journalistic culture in the “Saratovsky Vestnik”. The newspaper publishes notes, feuilletons, letters to the editor, reviews. Genres, reflecting the newspaper’s enthusiasm for literature and theatre, are presented abundantly. The deaths of Tolstoy and Chekhov are perceived by the newspapermen as a disaster that has hit the whole Russian social life. As a result, the genre of the passionate obituary is born. The genre diversity of the Vestnik’s literary materials suggests a unified context for the paper provided by the continuity of the authors and the editorial staff. Literary figures and literature often provoke conversation about contemporary life. One of the genre peculiarities that distinguishes the newspaper culture of the “Saratovsky Vestnik” is the way the authors of news lines, feature articles, and reviews of the political life of the city and the province, use literary images, writers’ statements, and aphorisms from works of fiction. It proves not only that the Vestnik’s authors were literary-centric, but also that the newspaper was created for Saratov intelligentsia and people of other walks of life who focused on literature as their main criterion of truth. Readers‘ intentions in the “Saratovsky Vestnik” were a form of popularizing newspaper genres, a way of recognizing them, and of expanding the boundaries of the audience.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):166-174
166-174
Genres of online learning discourse: From learning website to e-lesson
Abstract
The article aims at the substantiation, definition and genre characteristics of a new sphere of Internet communication – learning online discourse, which is becoming increasingly important in modern educational practice due to various social processes and technological development of society, but has not yet become the subject of linguistic and genre analysis. The research is based on observation and comparison of various genres emerging in online learning and illustrated by the online discourse on studying foreign languages. The basis for the analysis is the model of the Internet genre, which includes media, pragmatic, structural and linguistic parameters. The paper gives the definition of the online learning discourse as a computer mediated communicative activity for the formation of subject knowledge and skills of students. The given definition illustrates that it is important to include the leading media and pragmatic parameters in determining the type of discourse or a particular genre. Among the genres of online learning discourse the author singles out asynchronous (based on written speech format) and synchronous (oral) communication forms. Examples of the former are a learning website and its types (a learning website covering a separate course of lessons, a learning website as part of a personal site, a learning site as part of a learning portal), the latter is illustrated by a synchronous online lesson, its video recording and a recorded video lesson. Different genres of online educational discourse are characterized by the explication of the steps of the lesson. In the structure of the genre there is an instructive component, which is characterized by addressing, directiveness and the use of computer vocabulary, as well as an explanatory component, where the vocabulary of the studied subject area and thematic vocabulary are used.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):175-185
175-185
Implicit expression of political stance in political weblogs
Abstract
The article analyses the ways of implicit expression of the political stance of bloggers. The relevance of the topic under study is determined by the increased influence of non-institutional means of communication on political processes. Blogs, social networks, and messengers have become an important tool of communication among members of civil society, as well as platforms for expressing citizens’ positions. The expression of a blogger’s political position does not always occur directly and explicitly. The purpose of this article is to identify, describe, and analyze implicit ways of expressing a political position in a political blog. The features of the implicit expression of a political position depend, first of all, on the degree of institutionalization of the author and their professional occupation. These parameters formed the basis for the classification of authors of political blogs: official politicians; non-official political persons; journalists, political scientists as well as ordinary people. It is argued that each group of authors express a specific political position. In this respect, official politicians implicitly express patriotism, concern for the people, all this serves as a means of improving the credibility of a politician. In addition, the implicit expression of the position of the political force whose interests are represented by politicians serves as a tool for fighting during elections or referendums. Non-official politicians implicitly express oppositional views. Journalists, political scientists as well as ordinary people, can implicitly express a wide range of political beliefs – from pro-government to oppositional.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):186-194
186-194
Play characteristics in the genre structure of girl’s diary
Abstract
The relevance of the research is determined by its inclusion into the theory of natural written speech, namely, into the study of genre organization of this type of writing and speech activity. The genre of a girl’s diary, considered as a written implementation of a phatic playful behavior, is described from the point of a dominant determinant approach. In the aspect of external determination, the genre playful intent is researched through its social environment analysis. In the aspect of internal determination, the dependence of genre features within a discourse unit is revealed. The playful intention is regarded as a genre dominant, at the level of which the interrelation of extralinguistic and linguistic features of the text is analyzed. The authors of the paper claim that a girl’s diary, reflecting the process of a girl’s socialization in her girlhood, construes a phatic play space where the “adult” topics can be discussed in confidential communication with the people of the same age. The play is embodied at the level of extralinguistic conditions of a text generation: the spatial and temporal organization of diary communication (the functioning of the diary in a closed socio-cultural environment); the selection of communication participants; the deployment of communication, considering its regularity and some freedom of speech actions of the participants. The play principle is represented at the linguistic level of speech, within the framework of the structural and content arrangement of the text (the tendency of the sections of the girl’s diary to keep to the phatic play format of communication; specific genre types of texts); the linguistic embodiment of the genre (usage of youth slang; a multi-coded text; a language play). As a result, the play dominant of a girl’s diary determines the intermediate position of diary communication between the real and unreal areas in the language consciousness of the diary community members. The ways of a play discourse structuring the girl’s diary are based on the rules prescribed by the genre standards; they aim at modeling a virtual version of reality, which correlates with the socio-cultural status of the diary community members.
Speech genres. 2023;18(2 (38)):195-204
195-204