Lexical blending as a stylistic device in the prose of Vladimir Nabokov

Lexical blending is a connection of the parts of two different words or a whole word and a part of another word. As a result of blending a new word is formed that is called blend, for example: biology + electronics = bionics. There are two types of lexical blending: clipping and overlap. Lexical clipping is when a whole word and one part of another word or the first part of one word and the end part of another word have concurring components and are connected (modulator + demodulator = modem). The structural scheme of the overlap may be [а (b = а) в] or [а (b = в) у], etc. Lexical overlap is when the end of one word is replaced by the first part of another word (breakfast + lunch = brunch). The structural scheme of the overlap is ^b + ав = ав]. When lexical overlap is used as a stylistic method, a certain stylistic effect is produced. Authors use this effect of the blend to create the comic, for example: mordal'on (А. Averchenko) = morDA (mug) + meDAl'ion (medallion). Functions of lexical blends were essentially extended in modernistic literature when a speech artistic form appeared separate from the content, literary form proper and language of literary work, as an "additional building part" of fiction and poetry (G.I. Klimovskaya). An example of the use of blends for the creation of an unusual and new stylistic effect is the prose of Vladimir Nabokov. Lexical blends in Vladimir Nabokov's prose perform diverse functions. For example, occasional word trUPsik in a short story "Ultima Thule" is_formed by clipping the words trUP (corpse) and pUPsik (naked baby doll). This blend performs the nominative function and signifies a baby born in a grave. At the same time this blend, arising in a dream of a heartbroken widower, contributes to the rendering of the character's state of mind. Blends Helix and Ferman from the novel Otcha-yaniye (Despair) are formed from names Herman and Felix ^b + ав = ав + ab]. These blends, on one hand, reflect the intensity of self-identification of one of the characters, Herman, with another character, Herman. On the other hand, each blend serves as a means to express the idea of similarity and depersonalization of people in a socialist society, and also as a means to express the ironical attitude to this idea.

Keywords

Authors

References