Lyudmila Hutsulyak-Timofti

Chernivtsi University

Pragmatic Functions of Direct Address in the Author’s Discourse

An important contribution to the development of theoretical and practical pragmatics and the theory of direct address in particular has been made by A.V. Veltistova, O.H. Vetrova, V.E. Goldin, H.N. Klyusov, O.N. Minina, M.A. Olikova, L.P. Rud’ko, A.H. Gardiner, J Habermas and other linguists.

The significance of direct address has always been one of the most fascinating subjects in different spheres of linguistics since with their help the relation and style of communication between the interlocutors is determined. Most linguists singled out the most important functions of direct address in communication, the principles of direct address determination etc.

The objective of our research is the analysis of pragmatic functions of direct address in the author’s discourse (John Grisham, Chalker Jack L., G. K. Chesterton). The common volume of discourse is 292 938 word usage.

Author’s discourse opens it’s own discursive space, using conventions of the author’s world and offering possibility to overcome or for a time forget about the traditional logical systems of order and rules.

Author’s discourse has its own peculiarities and features. It has its own style and usage of stylistic devices. The choice of direct address by different authors is also different. The pragmatic functions of direct address in the author’s discourse can be multiple and varied.

Let’s review what the commonly accepted pragmatic functions of direct address are:

1) nominativ-contact function;

2) nominativ-differentiating function;

3) nominative -identifying function;

4) socially-regulating function;

5) evaluation-characterizing function;

6) stimulating function;

7) actually contact function;

8) ethical function. [1,38]

Of course the usage of direct address in this or that function is stipulated by the genre and the style in which the author writes, about what he/she wants to write and in what manner.

The wide usage of direct address of different pragmatic functions we can observe in the author’s discourse, which has a dialogical speech. Here we can meet almost all the functions mentioned above. But let’s define with what intention and purpose the authors use these functions.

First of all, let’s take nominative-contact function, which is often met in the author’s discourse. The author to make the addresser to establish communication with the addressee and to make him/her listen and react to what was said usually uses this function.

For example: ‘Julia, I wanted to tell you, Michael has engaged Avice.”[2, 208]

The next function is nominativ-differentiating. It is often used to name an addressee, to differentiate him/her from the others interlocutors and to attract his/her attention.

For example: “Here are the letters, Margery.” [2,10]

The usage of socially-regulating function points on the author’s desire to show, that the addresser uses a certain type of direct address with the intention to regulate his/her social relations with the addressee, to make their communication better or worse.

For example: “All right, darling, I’ll manage.”[2,173]

Very often we come across another pragmatic function of direct address in the author’s discourse – evaluation-characterizing function. It is used by the addresser to name his/her addressee with some tender or unfriendly names, to show his/her attitude towards the addressee. Sometimes it is used to soften the atmosphere of the communication or when the addresser wants to ask something.

For example: “ You old cow! How dare you interfere with my private concerns?”[2,171]

Another function, which is worth our consideration, is stimulating function. The direct address in this function is used to stimulate the addressee to listen or to react to the words of the addresser.

For example: “Hulloa, Julia, what’s the matter with you tonight?”[2, 106]

The most of direct addresses are used with the ethical function, especially in the author’s discourse. They are the units of speech etiquette, they help to establish formal and professional relations between the interlocutors.

For example: “You won’t forget me, Miss Lambert?”[2, 187]

Such wide usage of different functions of direct address in the author’s discourse helps the authors better to show the relations between the interlocutors and better to establish the required atmosphere of the intercourse.

Literature:

1. Гольдин В.Е. Обращение: теоретические проблемы. – Саратов: Изд-во Саратовского ун-та, 1987. – 115с.

2. Моем У.С. Театр: Книга для читання англійською мовою для студентів ІІ-ІІІ курсів.– Вінниця: Нова Книга, 2002. – 311с.