THE IMPERSONAL SENTENCE FUNCTIONS IN FICTION: COGNITIVE APPROACH

Abstract

The article aims at analysing the functional potential of the impersonal sentence structures in fiction, assuming that the type of the sentence structure under study objectivises a certain cognitive substratum. Having the Cognitive Grammar theory developed by R.W. Langacker as the theoretical assumptions' basis, as well as considering research into the cognitive nature of the impersonal structure subject, the article aims at detecting the constituent of the canonical event model which is profiled by the impersonal structure subject. It follows from the research undertaken that the specific function of the impersonal sentence structure is coding of the setting. Here lies the principal distinction of the structures under study from the canonical ones. The capacity of the impersonal structure to code the setting stipulates one of its discursive properties described in the article. Besides, the setting parameters relevant for it to take part of a participant (trajector) in the event model are dwelt upon.

Keywords

• безличное предложение
• каноническая модель события
• безличность
• когнитивный субстрат
• профиль-база
• фигура-фон
• impersonal sentence
• canonical event model
• impersonality
• cognitive substratum
• profile-setting
• figure-ground