Perspectives of Ukrainian German Studies: Linguistic Literary Studies as a Modern Field of Research

Abstract

The article presents a promising area of modern Germanic studies actively introduced by the Department of German Philology of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, i.e. linguo-literary studies. Based on the extensive scholarly experience of the Department, the feasibility and fruitfulness of linguo-literary studies as an interdisciplinary area of contemporary philology is proven. Because the two philological disciplines are closely related, it is argued that their interaction is vital, at the least in the problematic complexes that deal with texts, writing and discourse. The research topic is justified with the help of relative German-language academic discourse, which confirms the overt trend of shortening the distance between modern linguistics and literary studies. Literary texts and literary language are essential elements of mutual academic consideration of the two disciplines. The links between linguistics and literary studies are showcased from a scholarly and historical perspective. Particular attention is paid to the 1960s-1970s as a period of mutual convergence of the two philological disciplines under the umbrella of linguo-literary studies. The key theoretical provisions used are those expressed by Roman Jakobson in his Linguistics and Poetics (1960). Among the functions of language, the scholar singles out “poetic function” and discusses literary use of language using linguistic terms as it is preconditioned by linguistic structures. It is emphasized that the integration of closely related disciplines is justified and ensured by the academic course “Belles-lettres”. Despite all of the interaction challenges, both disciplines work with texts and must consider their linguistic nature. Using the example of the academic discussion presented in the Literary Studies and Linguistics journal and given the activities of the Literaturlinguistik Internet platform and some recent academic papers, new directions of linguo-literary studies are set forth. In this context, the cooperation of the two philological disciplines at the Department of German Philology appears particularly promising.