Syntactic means of positive emotions representation in American and British drama

Abstract

The paper discusses the peculiarities of syntactic constructions presenting positive emotions in the speech of characters in dramas by modern American and British playwrights. The proposed research method suggests application of a correlative classification of extralinguistic and linguistic features including paradigmatic systems of emotional states and structural forms as an instrument for qualitative and quantitative analysis. Positive emotions are classified according to the criterion of their impact on speech-thought processes. A hierarchical paradigmatic classification of structural deformations of the emotionally neutral invariant including transformations, modifications and primary syntactic features is introduced. The prognostic potential of primary syntactic features in respect of the three types of emotional states is explored. It is shown that more than a half of primary features when used in isolation belong to the first (absolute) or the second level of dominancy according to the algorithmic identification of the emotional state type and that the character of positive emotions’ effect on the speech-thought process (beneficial, boundary or destructive) correlates with the choice of syntactic structures. Differences in the number and types of syntactic constructions realized under the influence of positive and negative emotions are described. The role of qualitative and quantitative discrepancy in syntactic specificities with positive and negative emotions for further researches concerning identification issues purposes is shown.

Keywords

• emotional speech
• syntax
• american and british drama