LINGUOPRAGMATIC FEATURES OF THE MEANING FIELD OF DESCRIPTIVE TEXTS (ON THE MATERIAL OF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTER OF UNKNOWN IN THE NOVEL OF A. MANZONI “BETROTHED”)
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Okhrimenko Valeriia 
Published: April 2024

The linguopragmatic features of descriptive texts devoted to the description of the negative character Nameless in A. Manzoni's novel "Betrothed" are analyzed. It has been established that the regularities of information quantization in the semantic field of descriptive texts can be schematically presented in the following way: referent-subject – quality of the referent (evaluation) – locative markers (peculiarities of perception) – temporal markers (sequence of referent-subject’s potential actions, repetition), unfolding of causal structures. It has been established that the organization of meaning-making of a descriptive text is determined by the modal meaning of intrinsic possibility that implies a connection between a subject and its immanent quality. Such connection determines subject’s typical behavior and is related to generalization and evaluability. Tha modal meaning of intrinsic possibility is based on the connection “generalized quality – potential ability”. The connection between subject and its immanent characteristics determines the quantization of information in a microtext and counteracts the openness of channels of information deployment. Temporal relations in descriptive texts are usually expressed through Imperfetto (repeatability, generalization), Modo Condizionale (evaluation), Periodo Ipotetico (unfolding of causal structures). In the semantic space of A. Manzoni’s novel “Betrothed” denotative lexical units (evaluatively neutral vocabulary, locative markers) can acquire an evaluative meaning under the influence of sense field of descriptive texts. Descriptive texts verbalize system-forming meanings “immanent property”, “potential ability”, “evaluation”, “conditionality”, “generalization”. The various linguistic means that verbalize the specified system-forming meanings include Imperfetto (repeatability, generalization), Modo Condizionale, lexical units of evaluative semantics (immanent property, evaluability), Periodo Ipotetico (potential ability, conditionality), existential predicate “essere”, verbs of semantics of movement being part of stylistic device of personification, verbs of causal semantics, modal units of intrinsic possibility “potere”, “ardire”. The dominance of statics over dynamics in descriptive text determines the peculiarities of the functioning of verbs of movement being part of stylistic device of personifications when describing natural phenomena (“saliva”, “si spiegava”, “scorreva”). Verbs to indicate actions of referent-subject as potentially possible in the unfolding of causal structures are introduced not directly but through the modal verbs of intrinsic possibility “potere”, “ardire”. Temporal markers are used to show the sequence of referent-subject’s typical actions. To describe the image of the Nameless in the novel “Betrothed”, A. Manzoni chooses stylistic devices that are organized according to the principle of relevant salience. Synonymous series of lexical units with evaluative connotation creates a negative evaluation in the semantic field of descriptive texts. Descriptive text models top-down perception that is determined by subject’s immanent quality. Personification performs the function of emphasis (“sporge in fuori”), metonymy – generalization (quantifiers of totality: “tutto”, “nessuno”), simile and epithet – evaluation. Perception is verbalized in the direction "from top to bottom" through antithesis and gradation. The main stylistic device is antithesis reflecting the opposition between the negative character and the environment. Metonymy and synecdoche form an antithesis that accentuates the contrast between the omnipotence of the Nameless and the powerlessness of his enemies.