The Periphrasis as a Language Nomination in the Context of Theories of Reference Cover Image

Перифразата като средство за номинация в контекста на теориите за референцията
The Periphrasis as a Language Nomination in the Context of Theories of Reference

Author(s): Vitka Deleva
Subject(s): Language studies, Language and Literature Studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics
Published by: Софийски университет »Св. Климент Охридски«
Keywords: periphrasis; description; nomination; reference; pragmatics

Summary/Abstract: The periphrasis is one of the means of the language by which it achieves the nomination of objects in extra-linguistic reality. Semantic-structural characteristics of the periphrasis result from its capability to complete nominative and expressive functions simultaneously, also from its semantically and syntactically organized entirety. In this paper we follow the view that the selection of a language nomination type is determined by the actual speech situation and we see the use of periphrasis in linguistic communication not only as a product of language conventions, but also as a pragmatic selection of the speaker, which is achieved within the actual speech act. The analysis shows the substitution of a descriptive phrase for a proper name used by the speaker as a specific speech strategy to achieve the communicative and expressive goals.