The Lexical Originality of a Literary Work: On the Technique of Analysis (A Case Study of Ivan Goncharov's Book of Travel Essays The Frigate "Pallada")

The aim of the study is the development of a complex technique for lexical features analysis in a single literary work. The author's technique is tested on the material of a book of travel essays The Frigate "Pallada " by Ivan Goncharov. The choice of the material is not random: Goncharov is a prominent writer; The Frigate "Pallada " is one of his key works; this text in many respects determined the further research of the Russian travelogue. Methods of three scientific directions which consider the lexical originality of the text were the basis for the technique of the analysis: historical lexicology and lexicography, research of individual style, linguistics of the text and theory of composition. The research is partly a continuation and development of V.V. Vinogradov's ideas about "word rows" which make up the basis of a literary work composition. The analysis of the lexical originality of The Frigate "Pallada " was carried out as follows: (1) the preparatory stage: the lexical material was processed; (2) the lexicon of the first-type word rows was determined; (3) the lexicon of the second-type word rows was determined; (4) the first-type word rows were analyzed; (5) the second-type word rows were analyzed. The preparatory stage assumes receiving an electronic concordance. Selection of lexicon in the first-type word rows is based on identification of lexicon groups distributed throughout the text and having similar functions. The structure of lexicon in the second-type word rows is determined by several criteria: (1) frequency; (2) multiple derivation; (3) plurality of syntagmatic and paradigmatic connections; (4) use in significant contexts. In the first-type word rows, the structure of lexicon is analyzed in comparison with the historical stage of language development. In the second-type word rows, the thorough semantic and stylistic analysis of word use is made. In The Frigate "Pallada ", exotic names, toponyms, ethnonyms and regional lexicon can be referred to the first-type word rows. The second-type word rows include rows connected with words Englishman and English formed by the keywords comfort, convenience, patriarchal character, trade and others. Thus, the author established existence of two types of word rows. The first-type word rows organize the structural integrity of the text. The second-type word rows form its conceptual integrity. The structure of word rows is determined by three types of factors: (1) historical; (2) genre; (3) personal. In the author's opinion, the use and functioning of words in word rows makes up the lexical originality of a literary work.

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