Article

Name: Dialectics of Time in Text: Elements of Traditional Narrative Technique

Authors: Mikhail Ya. Dymarsky

Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; Institute for Linguistic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation

Abstract:

The article examines models of temporal structure of a complex syntactic whole (text fragment) as the basic structural unit of a narrative text. Сomplex syntactic whole is understood as a group of formally completed utterances united around a unified semantic center. Two primary models of the temporal structure of a text fragment are identified: with continuous movement of time and with zero movement of time. The first is intended to describe the dynamics of plot events and is based on the actional rhematic dominant. Pure examples of this type are extremely rare: more often they are complicated by inlaid elementary descriptions, comments, etc. The second model contains descriptions, reasoning, comments, but not plot events. The principle of formation of derivative models by contamination of primary ones is demonstrated. Contaminations of the first level are shown: with intermittent time movement and with initial time movement. The model with intermittent time movement harmoniously combines the change of plot events with commentary on them. The initial time movement model highlights one event and then comments on it. Second-level contamination is the division of a plot event into a series of commented micro-events.

In third-level contaminations, a plot event is introduced at the beginning or some general thesis is formulated, and in subsequent utterances a chain of small plot events with possible comments is given, which, in turn, is entirely a revealing commentary in relation to the beginning. The language technique for introducing a plot event is briefly described.

Keywords: narrative, complex syntactic whole, temporal structure, plot event, narrative technique

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