STRUCTURAL TYPES OF POLYVOCATIVES AND THEIR FUNCTIONAL FEATURES IN EPISTOLARY TEXTS

Abstract

Background. An important genre-forming structural element of epistolary text is theindication of an addressee, which can come in a direct, address, metatextual or indirect address. Various ways of the addressee indication in the letter seeking to establish contact between theparties of epistolary communication, are united by the term epistolary vocative. If the addressermultiply names their addressee within one letter, such addresses build a system of addressnominations that are qualified in our research as a polyvocative. Keeping in mind the fact that such systems (polyvocatives) are very diverse and arranged in a specific way, the relevance of our linguistic research lies in their exploration and classification.Purpose. We seek to describe the structural types of the epistolary polyvocative and explorethereupon its main functions. Methods. A descriptive method was used to define the system of the letter’s constructivefeatures and to form the core of polyvocatives. Epistolary vocative typology building, and thedescription of its components’ vocabulary were done by means of linguistic modeling.Results. We have identified three structural types of the polyvocative: framed, scattered andcombined. The framed polyvocative consists of two addresses, the first of which commonly opensthe letter and the last one accompanies the final etiquette formula and the addresser’s signature. The framed polyvocative can be doubling (both addresses are similar), reduced (the second addressdoes not contain certain components of the first one), expanded (the second address contains extracomponents) and modified (the components are totally different). The scattered polyvocative contains two or more addresses spread over epistolary text, in which case the last address does not belong to the letter ending. The scattered polyvocative can be homogeneous (containing one-type addresses) or heterogeneous (containing various types of address). The combined polyvocative comprises three and more addresses; it combines the features of the framed and scattered polyvocatives and unites their functions. Discussion. The major function of the framed polyvocative is the phatic one, i. e., establishing contact between communicators through the initial address and contact termination atthe end of the letter. The scattered polyvocative seeks to maintain contact throughout the whole communication process; besides, it can also perform emotional and aesthetic functions. The components of the scattered polyvocative may mark the utterances that embody in the letter various speech genres (apology, gratitude, compliment, request etc.). This way, they can divide and integrate the text. Further research perspectives are related to exploring pragmatic traits of the epistolary polyvocative at large and its separate types in letters that function in various areas of communication