Lecture 13

3. The category of information

the content of the text

theme - message

theme = the general content presented in a condensed way

theme - WHAT IS THE TEXT ABOUT?

message = the formulated idea = concept (social, moral, aesthetic idea)

message - WHAT PROBLEMS DOES THE TEXT POSE?

layers of information in the text

1. Content-factual (cfi)

- formulation of the theme/plot of the text

- explicit

- textual

- open for perception

2. Content-conceptual (cci)

- the information of notions, ideas or problems

-deep-lying

- not easily discernible

- may have different interpretations

3. Content-subtextual (csi)

- implicit

- concealed / hidden

- has its signposts in the text

“My friend then introduced me. Wilson shook hands with me, politely, but with indifference.” ( W.S. Maugham The Lotus Eater)

Text interpretation - the search for the means (explicit/factual or implicit/subtextual) of expressing the concept

А.П. Чехов – Читать так, чтобы автор не обиделся.

Concept-forming factors in the text

- factual information

- implicit information

- the tonal system of the text

- image of the author / the point of view

• speech layers in the text

1. Implicit information

implication / subtext = an additional sense inferred from the elements of the text

М. Метерлінк – “Поряд з необхідним діалогом йде майже завжди інший діалог, що здається зайвим. Прослідкуйте уважно, і ви побачите, що лише його і слухає напружено душа, тому, що тільки він і звернений до неї. Ви побачите також, що якості та довжина цього безкорисного діалогу визначає якість і значимість твору, що не піддається вираженню.”

Types of implication:

1. An implicit title

“The Lion’s Skin” (S. Maugham)

“The Stranger” (K. Mansfield) - “Чужа” -Н. Охріменко

2. implication of precedence = “beginning from the middle”

“In the fall the war was always there, but we did not go to it any more”.

-the reader - a witness of some continued story

-the preceding events, facts and personages are supposed to be familiar

E.Hemingway Fifty Grand

“How are you going yourself, Jack?” I asked him.

“You seen this, Walcott?” he says.

“Just in the gym.”

“Well,” Jack says “I’m going to need a lot of luck with that boy.”

3. Implicit detail

“It pleased her to be seen in the dress circles even with Andrew.”

Prof. O. Vorobyova Linguistic signals of addressee-orientation

E. Hemingway Cat in the Rain

The American wife stood at the window looking out “I’m going down and get that kitty”, the American wife said The wife went downstairs and the hotel owner stood up and bowed to her “Il piole”, the wife said. She liked the hotel-keeper The wife liked him She was suddenly disappointed “There was a cat”, said the American girl “I suppose so”, said the American girl As the American girl passed the office, the pardon bowed from his desk. Something felt very small and tight inside the girl His wife was looking out of the window

Американка стояла у окна и смотрела в сад Я пойду вниз и принесу киску, - сказала американка Американка спустилась по лестнице, и хозяин отеля встал и поклонился ей “Il piole”, - сказала американка. Ей нравился хозяин отеля Он нравился американке Американка вдруг почувствовала разочарование Здесь была кошка, - сказала молодая американка Ну что ж, пойдем, – сказала американка Когда американка проходила вестибюль, падроне поклонился ей из-за своей конторки. Что–то в ней судорожно сжалось в комок Американка смотрела в окно