Metalanguage in the Reflection of Its Functions

Abstract

The research is devoted to the topical issues of linguistics, determined by the necessity of clarifying the scientific approaches to identification of the natural language functions, systematization of data on its metalanguage function, and the construction of a scientifically grounded representation of the metalanguage function implementation in a modern text (discourse). The relevance of the work is explained by the increased number and diversity of metalanguage contexts in modern communicative practice. The paper represents the results of a comprehensive study and description of the content and variants of manifestation in the text (discourse) of the metalanguage function of the language. The taxonomy of metalanguage functions is presented on the material of modern Russian literature works. The metalanguage is revealed to perform two basic functions: information research and modelling. The information and research function has an ontological basis and is characterized by a substantial heterogeneity, which made it possible to identify a number of specific functions: metaphatic, explanatory, characterizing, evaluative, searching, connecting and categorizing. The modelling function has psychological foundations, meaningfully aimed at creative understanding of the code for the purpose of its subsequent processing and creative use in speech activity, which provides a new modelling of reality. It is shown that when updating this function, the potential of pun, or play on words, is widely used. It is established that the modelling function is characterized by the implicitness of its realization in the text.

Keywords

• metalanguage
• metalanguage reflection
• metalanguage function of the language
• information and research function
• modelling function