Phonetic word transformation as a language play technique in modern Russian poetry

Abstract

The article aims to analyse the specific features of using metaplasms and technically related devices as language play means in modern Russian poetry. Additionally, the study determines their functions in literary texts. The study is relevant as the functions of a language play created with the help of various sound transformations of words have not been studied thoroughly enough. Nevertheless, the extensive use of metaplasms and similar changes in modern Russian poetry indicates the need for a more detailed investigation of this issue. The study relied on the methods of functional, contextual, and semantic analysis. This choice is determined by such poetic text features as the non-randomness of the author’s choice of linguistic means and the fundamental importance of context in their interpretation. The research made it possible to identify the following functions of metaplasms and related linguistic phenomena: 1) comic; 2) gnostic, including its variety – the function of rethinking; 3) hedonistic; 4) pragmatic; 5) iconic; 6) text-forming; 7) stylization function. Recognizing the high importance of metaplasms and related devices as a means to preserve rhyme and meter, the article concludes that it is advisable to consider other functions significant for analysing the meaning of poetic texts. The analysis results complement the theoretical information about the phonetic means of language play available in the scientific literature, thus enabling a detailed philological analysis of poetic text in school and university teaching.