Xenonarrative texts in literary and narrative communication: functional and pragmatic approach

Abstract

The article is devoted to the pragmatic analysis of literary xeno-narrative – a special type of literary and narrative communication that implements specific communicative functions and strategies aimed at discursive processing of cultural and linguistic otherness. The discursive processing of cultural otherness is understood as a process of verbal reflection of foreign cultural experience in literary xeno-narrative based on multilevel language means and understanding of the cultural and conventional norms of another linguistic culture in order to minimize the stress of intercultural adaptation. The paper defines the essential features of xeno-narrative, defined as a literary narrative, thematically immersed in the discourse of intercultural interaction, pragmatically reflecting the method of discursive processing of cultural foreignness and intentionally aimed at verbal transfer of mental experience from the author to the reader in the format of literary and narrative communication. The use of discursive, contextual and intent analysis of narrative allowed us to identify functionally and pragmatically determined linguistic and cultural conventions means of discursive processing in xeno-narrative. The following functions of xenonarrative were determined: minimizing the stress of cultural adaptation and verbal transfer of mental experience. In addition, three author’s strategies in literary xeno-narrative were described. The otherness identification strategy includes several trajectories for evaluating the friend / foe categories: “friend” can be connected both positively and negatively, “foe” is hostile at the initial stage of adaptation, but assimilation mitigates negative evaluation semes. The strategy of language acculturation is analyzed in the focus of the secondary language personality formation. The subjectification strategy is aimed at the most complete perception of the system of author's meanings and images, as well as at the reader’s emotional involvement and empathy. Conclusions in the work are made on the basis of the texts of literary xeno-narratives “Die undankbare Fremde” by I. Brezhna and “Girl in translation” by J. Kwok, as well as the electronic corps of Russian, English and German readers' reviews.