DISCOURSE THROUGH THE LENS OF DIALOGISM (ON THE BASIS OF AMERICAN LATE-NIGHT SHOW)

Abstract

The study focuses on the problem of discourse, one of the most multifaceted and complex phenomena in modern linguistics. In this article, discourse is analyzed as a medium in which the principle of dialogism is implemented, and the typical properties of discourse are viewed upon as a result of existence of dialogues within it. The purpose of the study is to identify the intrinsic character of discourse in terms of dialogism. The article suggests a model of discourse space - time on the basis of American late - night show programs. Discourse space - time is a medium in which certain sphere -sources coexist, from which the author of the late - night show “selects” certain texts. These texts are dialogically associated with the text of the late - night show. The article analyzes the components of the discourse space - time model. Case - method, stylistic analysis, content analysis, narrative analysis, structural - functional method, and analysis of text information (factual, conceptual and subtextual - according to I.R.Gal’perin) are used to explore the ways of implementing inner and outer dialogues. Inner dialogue is seen in the paper as a dialogue realized on the level of the text and existing independently of whether this text is included in any discourse space - time and, finally, in discourse. In its turn, outer dialogue is the one that functions on the level of discourse space - time, which means that this dialogue is discursive. The article compares the notions “text”, “discourse space - time” and “discourse” from the point of view of dialogism and substantiates the reason for addressing the time component while studying discourse. It also analyzes the problem of evaluation, manifested in the discourse space - time of American late - night shows. The author makes a conclusion that discourse is not just a mathematical sum total of the texts existing within its limits: from the point of view of dialogic nature discourse is nothing but a super - textual unity emerging as a result of dialogization of its components.