Филологические науки /Риторика и стилистика

Нусипова Ж. Н.

Региональный социально – инновационный университет, Казахстан

The linguistic means of expression of defeated expectancy

Defeated expectancy is sufficiently extensive and sophisticated phenomenon with a definite aesthetic impact. In accordance with this fact, the means of expression of this effect are diverse. It combines all spheres of language: linguistic and extra linguistic factors, however, all means of inducing the effect of defeated expectancy are built on the unexpected contrast that turns the mainstream ideas into a different direction. The effect of defeated expectancy is quite multidimensional phenomenon that occurs in the literary text at any level:

Homonyms are identical in writing but different in meaning words. Sometimes this phenomenon can play a very cunning trick, because the splitting of the meaning can lead to a completely wrong path in the story. In this regard, it naturally follows, that it is an excellent means for the creating of this effect. For instance, the example of realization of this effect with the help of homonyms we can find in the novel of Arthur Conan Doyle “The Adventure of the Speckled Band” (46, 63p). Improper interpretation of the homonym “band” resulted in a big confusion in the investigation of the main hero Sherlock Holmes. The last words of dying girls were “Speckled band” and interpreting the words “band” as gang Holmes believed that the murderer was a group of gypsies. What was a surprise when it was found out that the real culprit of the murder turned out to be a ribbon (which stands for a snake), the second meaning of the word “band”. That is to say, this story is a pure illustration of how homonyms can destroy the reader’s expectations because of the doubleness of meaning.

Ellipsis is a stylistic device, which constructs such statements, sentences and extracts in which the part of its meaning is hidden or transferred indirectly, with the help of implications. In contrast to the allusions, the object of the hint in ellipsis is not limited thematically and can concern any circumstance, event, person, etc. Deliberate concealment of relevant information can serve as one of the most efficient means of creating the effect of defeated expectancy. This phenomenon is apparently presented in the book “Shutter Island” by Dennis Lehane. The book starts with the arrival of Federal Marshal Teddy Daniels into a psychiatric hospital for investigating a case with the purpose to find the murderer of his wife in this hospital. Throughout the entire work, Teddy and the reader see that the doctors, the police and the rest staff of the hospital behave strangely; in consequence, there are a lot of doubts about the purity of their activities. Both Teddy and the reader begin to believe that there is a huge conspiracy in the hospital. However, the writer dropped only one simple detail, in the beginning of the book, that all subsequent events are going to be the part of experiment of the doctor who is eager to return the memory to his patient. That is to say, the whole personnel of the hospital played up to Teddy Daniels who turned out to be this patient and the murderer of his wife himself. Even so, this information was revealed to the reader only at the end, that produces the effect of defeated expectancy with the help of ellipsis. This effect turned the plot upside down.

Periphrasis is a rhetorical figure containing a hint on some object which has not been named directly. It can serve as a means of creating the effect of defeated expectancy. If the author designates a shocking effect with straight denotation meaning, it does not induce the necessary aesthetic effect, as if the reader guesses it himself. An example is clearly illustrated in the short story of Kurt Homan “Hide and seek”(66):

- Ninety-nine, one hundred! Who has not hidden, I am not guilty!
I hate to drive, but for me this is much easier than to hide. Entering the dark room, I whisper to those who are lurking inside: «Stukalo-lose! ».
They look escorted me down the long corridor, and hanging on the walls of mirrors reflected my figure in a black cassock with a scythe in his hands.

In this example, an allusion revealed a frightening idea that death itself came to kill some people. The short story begins with the fact that "someone" is playing hide and seek game, and the image of children is immediately constructed in reader’s mind. However, the “black cassock” and “scythe” are the attributes of death, what makes the reader understand that it is not a simple children’s game, but the last day of some people. And the person who is actually seeking is Death.

Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a term or phrase is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance. Since indirect designation of an object can lead to some kind of confusion, metaphor is an excellent means for defeated expectancy. The reader may misunderstand that some particular object is a metaphor, and not a word with direct meaning, what will create the effect of defeated expectancy. As in the short story of Tina Milburn “Crucial moment”(46):

She could almost hear the door of her prison slam.
Freedom is gone, now its fate is in the hands of others, and never be brought to see will.
In her head flashed crazy thoughts about how well would now like to fly far away. But she knew that to escape impossible.
With a smile she turned to her husband and said, «Yes, I agree».

The metaphor “prison” here caused miscomprehension because it can be understood literally. In this regard, all the other characteristics were associated with imprisonment. The addressee built up a picture in his mind of a prisoner passing through jail. However, it turned into an absolutely unexpected way that the word “prison” is used metaphorically and implies “marriage”. It describes the character’s opinion and her feelings of despair and unhappiness.