Semantic contrast and inequality in the vocative position (based on English fiction)

Abstract

 This paper aims at analysis of stylistic devices based on semantic contrast and inequality actualized in the vocative position. The subject of the study is functioning of the given vocatives in literary texts. The author used methods of semantic, contextual analysis and elements of pragmatic analysis. The results of the study. Ironic forms of address were firstly analysed among contrastive vocatives. They often include evaluative component of connotation. Depending on the context this component of connotation may change its meaning from negative to positive and vice versa.  Cases of non-referential use of address forms for creating ironic meaning are also discussed. During the analysis of address forms based on oxymoron certain postulates of M. V. Nikitin's theory of semantic combinatorics are used. The findings indicate that contradictory relations may exist not only inside a vocative syntagm, but also between the vocative and the rest of the utterance. In addition to that, semantic and stylistic types of such contradictoriness are characterized. Moreover, types of gradation and frequency of their actualization in the vocative position are analyzed. Besides that, variants of gradation components positioning in the text are revealed. The role of authorial text in the adequate interpretation of emotional and evaluative address forms — components of gradation — is defined. The usage of all of the above mentioned stylistic devices in the vocative position is combined with the evaluative component of connotation, highlighting positive or negative attitude of the speaker to the addressee and certain reaction of the speaker to the concrete communicative situation, addressee's words or behaviour. Further study of address forms may be promising in their interrelation with other means expressing the category of speech addressability, in revealing their genre specificity and characteristic features of other stylistic devices actualization in the vocative position.