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

a) Convergence
b) Defeated expectancy
c) Coupling
d) Semantic field
e) Semi-marked structures
Basic notions: encoding and decoding; foregrounding; convergence; defeated expectancy; coupling; semantic field; semi-marked structures.
1. Stylistics of the author and of the reader. The notions of encoding and decoding
Decoding Stylistics is the most recent trend in stylistic research that employs theoretical findings in such areas of science as information theory, psychology, statistical studies in combination with linguistics, literary theory, history of art, literary criticism, etc.
Decoding Stylistics makes an attempt to regard the esthetic value of a text based on the interaction of specific textual elements, stylistic devices and compositional structure in delivering the author’s message. This method does not consider the stylistic function of any stylistically important feature separately but only as a part of the whole text.
Encoding and decoding.
Decoding stylistics deals with the notions of stylistics of the author and stylistics of the reader.
2. Essential concepts of decoding stylistic analysis and types of foregrounding
Decoding stylistics investigates the same levels as lingua-stylistics - phonetic, graphical, lexical, and grammatical. The basic difference is that it studies expressive means provided by each level not as isolated devices that demonstrate some stylistic function but as a part of the general pattern discernible on the background of relatively lengthy segments of the text, from a paragraph to the level of the whole work.
Foregrounding means a specific role that some language items play in a certain context when the reader’s attention cannot but be drawn to them. In a literary text such items become stylistically marked features that build up its stylistic function.
2 a) Convergence implies denotes a combination or accumula­tion of stylistic devices promoting the same idea, emotion or motive. The use of more than one type of expressive means in close succession is a powerful technique to support the idea that carries paramount importance in the author’s view.
The door opened and from the cushions within emerged a tall young man in a clinging (облегающий) dove-gray coat. After him, like the first breath of spring in the Champs-Elysee came Mrs. Beste-Chetwynde - two lizard-skin feet, silk legs, chinchilla body, a tight little black hat, pinned with platinum and diamonds, and the high invariable voice that may be heard in any Ritz Hotel from New York to Budapest. (E. Waugh “Decline and Fall”)