Functions of a Monograph as a Document in Scholarly Communications

Abstract

The article considers functions of a monograph within the scholarly communication. They are studied via document that may have perceptive, nominative, informative, signative, sintactive, temporal, pragmatic and material (physical) elements. The corresponding functions are selected for each one. The internal functional orientation of a monograph is determined by the peculiarity of scientific information and its presentation to the reader. Therefore, one of the main element of the “scholarly monograph” system is its informational component. Its external functions (informational, memorial, legal, social, communicative) are manifested under the impact of external factors on the elements of the monograph system. The impact of the elements of the system on each other is manifested through internal functions: generalizing (synthetic, integrative), cumulative, historical, critical, epistemological, explanatory, etc. However, the external functions (informational and communicative) have the most noticeable impact on all elements of the system. Therefore they should be considered as the leading functions. These functions in a monograph manifest themselves in a specific significant way at the integrative stage of the development of scientific research.