Verbalization of indirect speech in the epistolary discourse of Lesya Ukrainka

Abstract

The article deals with the specifics of constructions with indirect speech in the epistolary of Lesya Ukrainka in terms of the structure of syntactic units and semantics of introductory verb tokens. In addition, attention is drawn to the syncretism of constructions with indirect speech, due to the peculiarities of the epistolary style. In the process of expressing opinions, Lesia Ukrainka used various forms of transmission of another’s speech, including indirect speech and its peripheral version – free indirect speech, the design and structure of which differs from indirect. Compound sentences with an explanatory part and complex sentences with several subordinate clauses, representing homogeneous subordination or consecutive subordination, are quantitatively predominant in constructions with indirect speech. Sentences-microtexts, built on the schemes «text – the author’s words – indirect speech», «text – the author’s words – indirect speech – text», «author’s words – indirect speech – text» are the next group. Sentences with double indirect speech, where the thoughts of one speaker, which testified by introductory verbs, or two speakers, or sometimes several, are highlighted separately. Indirect speech in letters is introduced using verbs of speech and thinking or their equivalents. Among the neutral verbatives-introductory words that represent live speech, the most productive are the tokens to speak, to think, to write, and among the implicit introductions – to be afraid and to hear. In addition, a number of implicit tokens that introduce indirect speech into the epistolary are highlighted. Thus, the epistolary style, although it has a number of common features with colloquial and artistic speech, but in the field of representation stands out among others with a bright set of linguistic means.