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Doctor of philology Olizko N.S.

Chelyabinsk State University, Russia

Semiotico-synergetic interpretation of discourse

Semiotic and synergetic interpretation of discourse provides integration of achievements in linguistics, cognitology, semiotics and synergetics. It offers opportunities for comprehensive review of literary work functioning in the semiosphere (semiosphere is a set of sign systems, including text, language and culture in general). This approach is universal because it is appropriate for the description of different types of discourse. The approach doesn’t contradict conventional theories of discourse analysis, it’s based on generally accepted linguistic statements and it supplements modern scientific theories and research guidelines. Besides, the approach is dynamic and open for further development.

In this research discourse as a constituent part of the semiosphere is considered to be the developing synergetic system that has the following basic principles of organization: hierarchical structure, instability, nonlinear nature, emergence, symmetric/ asymmetric property and openness. Taking into consideration hierarchical structure, the semiosphere consists of micro- (intertext), macro- (discourse), mega- (interdiscourse) levels: interdiscoursive semiosphere is formed by a diverse set of discourses, each of them consists of many intertexts.

The system “intertext – discourse - interdiscourse” is characterized by instability due to changes in the intertextual inclusions that lead to the discourse transformation which, in turn, affects interdiscourse of the semiosphere as a whole. The property of openness allows the system to evolve from simple to complex state because each hierarchical level acquires an opportunity to develop and become complicated. Meanwhile discourse is characterized by the emergence that provides the appearance of spontaneously occurring properties that are non-relevant for certain hierarchical levels (intertext, discourse or interdiscourse), but peculiar to the system as a holistic functional formation. Due to its inherent non-linearity and instability textual environment is considered as unpredictable, but it is always ready to create new semantic variations. Dominant meaning synchronizes symmetric (which are in dynamic equilibrium) and asymmetric (which are in the dynamic disequilibrium) system elements; it is the creative attractor that organizes discourse.

Appeal to synergistic concepts allows us to prove that the formation of intertextual structures in open and non-linear discourse is based on the principle of fractal similarity that actualizes the mechanisms of in- and intertextual interactions and provides a self-similar connection of text parts, other texts written by the same author and different precedent phenomena. Establishment of in- and intertextual links on the basis of similarity of units indicates the iconic nature of relationship, based on contiguity an indexical nature of the relationship. Fractal similarity of intertextual inclusions provides the implementation of work basic idea via the constituent elements that express the meaning of a whole text. Precedent phenomena (names, sayings, text, etc.), which enter the receiving text, establish fractal relationship of the produced text with many other preceded ones by reminding some famous image, reproducing exact wording or forming relevant associations.

If the implementation of the intertextuality is related to the activation of numerous reminiscences, referring to various literary works, the interdiscoursivity actualizes elements belonging to different semiotic systems. Interdiscoursivity is the synergy of multiple discourses manifested in the intertwining of discursive events that are of varying orientation and intentional communicative tone. Actualization of interdiscoursive relationships converts a work to the category of creolized text, structuring of which involves different semiotic codes systems. The interaction of discourse and symbolic systems is fulfilled at levels of intermedial and meta-discoursive relations.

Intermediality is understood as discourse interaction with non-verbal sign systems that constitutes polycoded creolized message. Intermedial relations’ implementation can be fulfilled, for example, by means of relationships between art discourse and other discourses on compositional and structural, figurative and stylistic levels. The code combination of different arts within one artwork is possible because of the property of openness that allows to consider every part of art discourse as separate “organism” capable of self-development. Using the external semiotic environment of the semiosphere and attracting new codes of perception, art discourse repeatedly re-creates and develops its dynamic intermedial structure via fractal self-organizing operations. It means the ability of elements of a non-equilibrium system of art discourse, that interacts with other sign systems, to come to the internal structure regulation.

Meta-discoursivity can be manifested in the use of linguistic and mathematical meta-languages. In other words, meta-discoursivity is understood as scientific and art discourses’ cooperation through the implementation of scientific semiotic systems in the artistic discourse. The semiotic systems act as a meta-language in relation to the relevant art work. Practical analysis allows us to devide metalinguistic inclusions into metalinguistic structural and organizational statements and metalinguistic discussion of language and literature. Statements that structure the utterance (classified as the first group) reflect the ways to shape an art work and explain the meaning of words and expressions. The combination of the verbal component with the iconic part of meta-discoursive set, which is represented by symbolic images, mathematical signs, formulas, equations, graphical models and patterns, organizes the creolized message, which is developed according to the principle of fractal similarity. Various comments (classified as the second group) concern the semantic fullness of the literary discourse in general and each individual art work separately. The results show that the meta-language as the means of describing the relevant discursive formation is the semiotic basis of reflection that structures the original object.

Thereby, the processes within the intertext and interdiscoursive signals from the semiosphere gradually lead to the appearance of random chaotic oscillations (fluctuations), which increase and bring the system closer to the branch point – crucial moment in choosing further way of development. It means the possibility to involve unlimited number of semantic elements into interpreting the art work; they are linked to personal meaning as a manifestation of creativity – creative attractor of the synergetic system. The author creates the art work and suggests some structure that is substantially open and makes the reader associate with something that is completely different from the original message. The mechanism of organizing intertextual and interdiscoursive relations is based on fractal structures as algorithm of self-similar form's construction and changes. Every single piece of the author’s text isn’t the final version, this is endless series of inserted meanings, interpretations, self-similarity of which ensures that the law of the unity in diversity is obeyed. It creates a holistic perception of the work, which consists of set of various intertextual and interdiscoursive inclusions. Continuous exposure of external factors in the form of intertextual and interdiscoursive information that comes from the semiosphere stimulates the system to self-organization, providing a spontaneous fluctuation transition from less complex forms of organization to more complex ones due to the internal reorganization of relations between the elements of the system.

The study of such categories as intertextuality and interdiscoursivity in terms and concepts of linguo-sinergetics, taking into consideration the fundamental principles of semiotics and cognitive linguistics is a promising material for research in the theory of language helping to analyze the works that belong to different literary spheres and institutional discourses.