Man and cat: non-standard communication in English-language literary texts

Abstract

Aim. Complex analysis of psycholinguistic features of verbal and non-verbal communication between a man and a pet cat in English fiction texts.Methodology. The author analyzed modern scientific research in animal psychology dealing with communicative abilities of cats and non-verbal communication. Five works of fiction were analyzed, and lexical and stylistic features of speech addressed to cats and ascribed to them, and also those of the cat nomination were described.Results. It was defined that the speech addressed to cats is, as a rule, emotionally coloured and can have features of baby talk. The research showed that verbal and non-verbal means used by a man in this type of communication have rather wide spectrum of semantics and emotions and perform important communicative functions. To describe feline characters in fiction various stylistic means with vivid pragmatics and expressiveness are used.Research implications. The materials of the research have practical value, because interaction of a man with pet cats serves some considerable practical purposes both in communicational and psychological aspects. In particular, communication with cats can be used in psychotherapy for decreasing the level of stress and anxiety in people.

Keywords

• non-verbal communication
• silence
• semantics
• pragmatics
• expressiveness
• emotionality