5.2. Essential concepts of decoding stylistic analysis and types of foregrounding - 18

Decoding stylistics investigates the same levels as linguastylistics— phonetic, graphical, lexical, and grammatical. The basic difference is that it studies expressive means provided by each level not as isolated devices but as a part of the general pattern. Ideas, events, characters, emotions and an author's attitudes are all encoded in the text through language. The reader is expected to perceive and decipher these things by reading and interpreting the text. One of the fundamental concepts of decoding stylistics is foregroun­ding (выдвижение).

Foregrounding means a specific role that some language items play in a certain context when the reader's attention cannot but be drawn to them. However decoding stylistics laid down a few principal methods that ensure the effect of foregrounding in a literary text. Among them we can name

• convergence of expressive means,

• defeated expectancy,

• coupling,

• semantic fields,

• semi-marked structures.

Convergence denotes a combination or accumula­tion of stylistic devices promoting the same idea, emotion or motive. It ensures the delivery of the message to the reader.

Defeated expectancy is connected with the process of decoding by the reader of the literary text.The linear organization of the text mentally prepares the reader for the logical development of ideas. Without predictability there would be no coherence and no decoding.

At the same time stylistically distinctive features are often based on the deviation from the norm and predictability. A stylistic device is a low expectancy element and it is sure to catch the reader's eye. Paradox is a fine example of defeated expectancy.

Coupling (сцепление) is another technique that helps in decoding the message implied in a literary work. Coupling deals with the arrangement of textual elements that provide the unity and cohesion of the whole structure (появление сходных элементов в сходных позициях, сообщающее целостность тексту). Semantic coupling is demonstrated by the use of synonyms and antonyms, both direct and contextual, root repetition, paraphrase, sustained metaphor, semantic fields, recurrence of images, connota­tions or symbols.

Semantic field is a method of decoding stylistics which identifies lexical elements in text segments and the whole work that provide its thematic and compositional cohesion. To reveal this sort of cohesion decoding must carefully observe not only lexical and synonymous repetition but semantic affinity which finds expression in cases of lexico-semantic variants, connotations and associations aroused by a specific use or distribution of lexical units.This type of analysis shows how cohesion is achieved on a level called the vertical context.

Semi-marked structures are extreme cases of defeated expectancy in which the unpredictable element is used contrary to the norm so it produces a very strong emphatic impact.Lexical deviation from the norm usually means breaking the laws of semantic compatibility and lexical valency. Arnold considers semi-marked structures as a part of tropes based on the unexpected or unpredictable relations established between objects and phenomena by the author.