"Syntactic stylistics in contemporary Russian comics"

Abstract

This paper explores the usage of devices of syntactic stylistics in contemporary Russian comics. The research aims to determine the functions that are achieved through elements of expressive syntax. The objective is to explore comics style in general, as well as devices on the phonostylistic, graphostylistic and the lexical stylistics plane. During the research, the analytic and synthetic method of scientific research was used, as well as the procedure of modern stylistic and syntactic analysis. The paper collects and analyzes examples of contemporary Russian comics that contain the following devices of syntactic stylistics: ellipsis, parcellation, nominative clauses, inversion and ecphonesis. The conclusion reached is that expressive syntax devices, as well as numerous other stylistic devices, are very frequently used in Russian comics. The function of these devises consists in conveying the features of conversational style, heroes’ emotional states, their relation to specific events, in achieving the verbal characterization of characters, in conveying the dynamics of action, emphasizing messages, as well as in formulating a concise expression which constitutes one of the main distinctive features of comics style.