THE COMMUNICATIVE STATUS OF TOPIC RECONTEXTUALIZATION

Authors

  • Liudmyla Kovalchuk Lesya Ukrainka Eastern European National University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29038/2617-6696.2018.1.50.63

Keywords:

topic, recontextualization, context model, communicative factors, lingual means

Abstract

This article presents a study of the communicative status of topic recontextualization in discourse. A context model is defined as a mental representation of the relevant parameters of a communicative situation in the episodic memory of the interlocutors which provides a thematic coherence of the communication. The study of context is understood in its organic connection with an object of the speaker’s thought, or topic, which makes it possible to reveal the cognitive structure of context and to analyze deeply the communicative status of recontextualization).

Recontextualization is defined as a linguo-cognitive operation aimed at functional topic reorientation in the discourse caused by the change of the interlocutors’ perspective on the topic. The communicative status of topic recontextualization includes various communicative factors: spatio-temporal inhomogeneity, redistribution of communicative roles, side-participant presence and polytopicality of communication.

Special attention is focused on the study of the lingual means that contribute greatly to topic recontextualization. Lexico-grammatical means function as indicators of retrospective and prospective reference. Communicative tactics of attracting attention, interruption and persuasion signal the redistribution of communicative roles. Speech phonation, the untimely completion of communication, topic change indicates the presence of a side-participant, either as a passive or an active communicative partner, joining in the topic recontextualization in the discourse. A coexistence of two or more topics within the communicative process marks its multiperspectivity.

References

Brown, Gillian. 1995. Speakers, Listeners and Communication: Explorations in Discourse Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Dijk, Teun A. van. 2008. Discourse and Context: A Sociocognitive Approach. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Duranti, Alessandro, Goodwin, Charles. 1995. Rethinking Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Fetzer, Anita. 2004. Recontextualizing Context: Grammaticality Meets Appropriateness. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Graumann, Carl F., Kallmeyer, Werner. 2002. Perspective and Perspectivation in Discourse. Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Gumperz, John J. 1982. Discourse Strategies: Studies in Interactional Sociolinguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Linell, Per. 1998. Approaching Dialogue: Talk Interaction and Contexts in Dialogical Perspectives. Amsterdam / Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.

Pilkington, Adrian. 1996. “Introduction: Relevance Theory and Literary Style”. Journal of Language and Literature 5 (3): 157–162. https://doi.org/10.1177/096394709600500301.

Simpson, Paul. 1993. Language, Ideology and Point of View. London, New York: Routledge.

Vasiliev, Leonid. 1985. Nekotoryie Aspekty Yazykovoi Deyatelnosti. Pragmaticheskie i semanticheskie aspekty sintaksisa: 28–35. Kalinin: Kalininsk. gos. un-t.

Vorontsona, Natalia. 2009. Komunikatyvna interaktsiia zi storonnim retsypiientom: lingvopragmatychnyi i kognityvnyi aspekty. Kremenets.

Burke, James L. 2000. Purple Cane Road. New York: Dell Publishing.

Collins, Wilkie. 2002. The Moonstone. Kindle edition.

Cook, Robin. 1982. Fever. New York: New American Library.

Greeley, Andrew.M. 2002. Irish Love. New York: Tom Doherty Associates.

Hadley, Liza. 1993. Not Such a Stranger. Richmond: Eton House, Mills and Boon Ltd.

Hemingway, Ernest. 2003. A Farewell to Arms. London: Penguin books.

Lawrence, David. H. 1997. Women in Love. Wordsworth Editions Ltd.

Maugham, Somerset W. 1991. Of Human Bondage. New York: Bantam Classics.

Spencer, LaVyrle. 1998. Small Town Girl. New York: Jove Books.

Downloads

Published

2018-11-22