Lecture Stylistics as a science. Problems of stylistic research. Plan

d) Semantic field
Semantic field is a method of decoding stylistics closely connected with coupling. It identifies lexical elements in text segments and the whole work that provide its thematic and compositional cohesion. To reveal this sort of cohesion decoding must carefully observe not only lexical and synonymous repetition but semantic affinity which finds expression in cases of lexico-semantic variants, connotations and associations aroused by a specific use or distribution of lexical units, thematic pertinence of seemingly unrelated words.
This type of analysis shows how cohesion is achieved on a less explicit level sometimes called the vertical context.
Lexical ties relevant to this kind of analysis will include synony­mous and antonymous relations, morphological derivation, relations of inclusion (various types of hyponymy and entailment), com­mon semes in the denotative or connotative meanings of different words.
If a word manifests semantic links with one or more other words in the text it shows thematic relevance and several links of this sort may be considered a semantic field.
Joe kept saying he did not want a fortieth birthday party. He said he did not like parties— a palpable untruth— and particularly and especially a large party in honor of his reaching forty... At first there were going to be forty guests but the invitation list grew larger and the party plans more elaborate, until Arthur said that with so many people they ought to hire an orchestra, and with an orchestra there would be dancing, and with dancing there ought to be a good-size orchestra. The original small dinner became a dinner dance at the Lantenengo Country Club. Invitations were sent to more than three hundred persons... (O’Hara)
e) Semi-marked structures
Semi-marked structures are a variety of defeated expectancy associ­ated with the deviation from the grammatical and lexical norm. It’s an extreme case of defeated expectancy much stronger than low ex­pectancy encountered in a paradox or anti-climax, the unpredictable element is used contrary to the norm so it produces a very strong emphatic impact.
The stupid heart that will not learn
The everywhere of grief.
Lexical deviation from the norm usually means breaking the laws of semantic compatibility and lexical valency:
She ... tried her best to spoil the party. (Erdrich)
Montezuma and Archuleta had recently started a mock-serious separatist movement, seeking to join New Mexico. (Michener)
Would you believe it, that unnatural father wouldn’t stump up. (Waugh)
He liked the ugly little college... (Waugh)


Литература:

1. 
   Арнольд И.В. Стилистика декодирования. Курс лекций. Л., 1974.
   
2. 
   Знаменская Т.А. Стилистика английского языка. Основы курса. М., 2004.
   
3. 
   Мороховский А.Н. Cтилистика английского языка. Киев, 1989.
   
4. 
   Galperin I.R. Stylistics. M., 1977.
   
5. 
   Kucharenko V.A. A Book of Practice in Stylistics. M., 1986.
   
6. 
   Skrebnev Y.M. Fundamentals of English. М., 1994.