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Isayeva Khayala Majlum, Azerbaijan University of Languages (AUL) E-mail: [email protected]
MEANING-CONTENTS PARALLELS IN A LITERARY TEXT
Abstract: The article highlights consideration of theme-contents parallels in the literary and linguistic aspects.
In the introduction of the article brief information is introduced on the problems to be discussed in the article, also the importance of the consideration of the problem is substantiated. Text and discourse relations in the article are considered; opinions on their determination are viewed and exposed to the readers. It is also noted on the creation and formulation of the term actual division or actual segmentation of the sentences, the differentiation of terms on the conception is introduced, theme and rheme relations are studied.
The author makes attempts to disclose the real nature of theme and rheme relations, including the consideration of text and discourse attitudes.
In the article specially chosen extracts from literary pieces are analyzed as to the active sentence division or active sentence segmentation both in the concept of literary and linguistic concepts and it is indicated that there are a number of distinctions between grammatical and actual segmentation of sentences given in a particular text.
Keywords: meaning, contents, literary texts, abstract, narratives, sentence division.
1. Introduction As we know, an artistic piece (literature) is the
Learning literary texts, gaining basic knowledge product of the choice of the writer, which he or she
on literature study, its genres, the ways of express- chooses to express the reality via his/her way of un-
ing ideas in different stylistic devices, knowledge derstanding. In the quality of the scene any occur-
on the structure of sentences, development of the rence of activity can be chosen in the environmen-
quality of reading literary pieces, development of tal sphere. Its reflection in a literary piece is called a
skills of understanding the piece of given piece of theme.
literature, making the learners able to differentiate Interpretation and understanding of a literary
different reading materials as to the meaning-con- text is on the junction of theory of literature and
tents peculiarities, we think make it necessary to linguistics which in the article has been chosen as
take a deeper view into the problems of text-con- the main target of our investigation. tents problems in a literary piece of literature. Lit- 2. Method of Investigation erary texts exist advantageously in written forms. In the study of the theme we have used the
Their oral reproduction (Made by an actor, a reader method of comparative-componental analyses of
or a narrator) has a secondary character, because concepts, because the study deals with text (a liter-
the effectivity of the literary texts displayed by the ary concept) and actual division or actual segmenta-
performance of an actor or read by a reader de- tion of sentences (a linguistic concept). Besides in
pends on the personality and emotions of the ac- the investigation of the theme the materials of both
tor or a reader. All these are the features, causing English and Azerbaijani languages are studied by the
our interest. typological-comparative method.
3. Text and discourse problems in modern linguistics
In modern linguistics text and discourse have been both the object of discussion and the object of debate. A number of determinations, explanations, proofs have been mentioned on both notions, also attempts have been made for the distinctive determinations. Despite all this, the mentioned-above notions still remain unsolved. Differentiation of ideas between the interpretations of text and discourse, including the accepted common features are explained as to the approach of the scholars.
First of all, it is necessary to consider that text is both material being and abstract being, namely it both exists and non-existing-abstract being. If we deal with a literary text then, a story, a novel, poetry, a poem and others are material beings-existing objects or are certain language materials. But when we approach this kind of existing notion from the view of contents, we discover its abstract character as well. Ifwe try to learn the viewpoints of a number of respondents, on a story of a small value about its contents, idea of the author of the story, the aim of its writing and so on, we shall discover as many distinctive considerations and attitudes as the number of respondents. So, here we can come to such a conclusion that the main important feature preventing us, making obstacles before us in revealing the essence of the text, putting in more general words is linked with the contents of the text. Any text contains apparent explicit contents and implicit contents hidden in the deeper layers.
The reason of appearance of such causes, having been united with each-other and being as language means, formulating relatively simple and complex thoughts in the form of sentences, are as well narratives, syntactic wholes, being in chainlike parallel coordination.
If we accept the fact that text is a material being, then we cannot accept the fact that it is something of a ready-made existence in real truth, because any text is created and it possesses an author. Besides,
the created text is for a reader. So, in the structure of a text two sides take parts.
The first side (an author) is active, but the second side (a reader) is passive and does not take a direct part in the creation of the text. But while setting up any text the author takes the reader into consideration, tries to use means, which may effectively influence on the reader. In the works, which the author creates for himself, (for e.g. a diary), there exists a second party as well. In this case we face the confrontation of an author, with an author. The monological speech which the writer directs to himself is just the same of this. When a text is completed it becomes materialized.
Linguistic description and analysis of a text has started on the basis of the text which has become materialized. The initial investigations of descriptive character, leads to differentiation of the units such as word combinations, sentence and at last complex sentence in the creation of potential syntax.
If potential syntax reveals objective laws of grammatical segmentation of a sentence, coordination of words, within the distribution of words, it does not specify sentence-narrative attitudes, because a narrative does not become a unit or an element of potential syntax. Potential syntax is inseparably linked with actual syntax. That's why the tie between grammatical division and actual segmentation is very strong. The existing tie between the subject, being the unit of grammatical division and predicate being the tie between the attitude of theme and rheme, the relations of attitudes are nearer to each-other. In the unexpended two member sentences subject may be fitful to theme, but the predicate may be fitful to the predicate [3, p. 14-15]. The investigator is right in saying that the sentences which possess the probability of the facts that the subject is fitful to theme and the predicate is fitful to the predicate are two-member sentences, but he categorically refuses accepting the subject as a theme and the predicate as a rheme. Grammatical division of a sentence cannot go beyond the limits of a sentence. If it goes beyond
the limits, then we may speak of a second sentence, second subject and a second predicate. The subject of one sentence does not put forth the subject of the second sentence, neither the predicate of one sentence demands the predicate of the second sentence. But for rheme which is a unit of actual division, the demand of theme and new rheme is possible.
"The theme is the basis information both the speaker and the receiver of the information" [2, p. 226]. "Theme is something which is known both to the listener and speaker, is the subject of talk, given information, in other words, what is going on the sentence that is a theme" [1, p. 36].
4. Problem of Actual sentence segmentation in linguistics
V. Matezius putting forth the idea of confrontation of actual segmentation of a sentence with its formal division, shows, if formal division of a sentence separates the sentence into its elements, actual segmentation studies the way of its joining the subject context of the sentence and the sentence itself is created on the basis of subject context. If the main elements of the formal division of a sentence are grammatical subject and grammatical object, the main elements of actual segmentation are the final point of utterance in this situation the thing, which is known to us, is the nuclear of utterance. The speaker gives information on the final point in the nuclear [5, p. 238].
"Renowned curator Jacques Sauniere staggered through the vaulted archway of the museum's Grand Gallery. He lunged for the nearest painting he could see, a Caravaggio. Grabbing the gilded frame, the seventy-six-year-old man heaved the masterpiece toward himself until it tore from the wall and Sauniere collapsed backward in a heap beneath the canvas. As he had anticipated, a thundering iron gate fell nearby, barricading the entrance to the suite. The parquet floor shook. Far off, an alarm began to ring" [7].
"Taninmi§ kurator Jak Sonyer Boyuk Qalereyanin tagli arkasinin altindan yirgalana-yirgalana kegib ilk gozuna dayan rasma, Karavaconun tablosuna taraf get-
di. iki ali ila qizili gargivadan yapi§ib ozuna taraf gakdi. §edevr divardan qopdu va yetmi§ ya§li qoca Sonyerin ustuna a§di. Sonyerin fikirila§diyi kimi da oldu. Bu zala giri§i baglayan damir horma da gurultuyla a§di. Parket do§ama titradi. Uzaqdan siqnalizasiyanin ugultusu e§idildi" [6, s. 7].
In the Azerbaijani variants of above-given text, we see that the first of the two paragraphs, consists of three sentences, but the second paragraph consists of four sentences. Despite the quantity of sentences, the first paragraph is wider and possesses wider information contents. If it is possible to separate the "man" theme from the "gediram" rheme in the sentence "Man gediram" in the sentences given above the paragraph it is difficult enough to determine theme and rheme.
As we have mentioned, nothing is known to the reader - the receiver of the information. Namely, the reader has no information on the theme of the first sentence. He/she may determine the theme after completely reading of the theme. No matter what level it refers to all the units of the language possess information and this informativity bears semantic characterization. When speaking on the language and speech materials "meaning" and "contents" and sometimes the notion of "essence" show themselves. Sentences are formulated on the basis of words, and as these words are not distributed in the way how they may, so, the links among them are established differently. Words are coordinated by grammatical means; they realize the possibility of a relatively complete thought, having added grammatical meanings to the word combinations and having turned to a whole unit. In the above-mentioned examples the first word or the component "taninmi§" is a participle. The word form has derived from the verb "tanimaq". The fact that in the Azerbaijani language this participle preceeds the noun "kurator" the coordination of the creation of two words expand their separately-taken semantics: taninmi§ kurator. Here we do not deal with an ordinary "kurator", we deal with a "taninmi§ kurator" (Reknowned curator). If the reader knows
the meaning of the word curator (kurator), he more correctly cognizes the word combination "taninmi§ kurator". Jacques Sauniere is an anthoponymic combination. It expresses name or surname when there is acquaintance with onomastic system or knowledge about the reader it completes the information on the fact that Jacques Sauncere is French and belongs to a male gender. "Boyuk Qalereya" (Grand Gallery) is also an onomastic unit and it expresses a closed place. As Gallery may mean an exhibition hall or a museum, it can also mean a place where dresses are sold or it may mean any other place used for other purposes. While the words, establishing the sentence are being read, as if the information received by the reader becomes newer, becomes pure, specified and concrete. Though specification and concretization go on, the thought is not completed and assumptions may remain as different. Only then, when the sentence is completed, when it receives its predication, the speaker understands the initial, relatively complete thought of the addresser or the author. In the English language, as the predicate directly comes after the subject the completion of thought, the main information is quickly formulated, its expansion on the line of subject and predicate group and on different lines goes on. In the Azerbaijani language expansion goes on and only in the end the complete thought is achieved and full stop is made. If the sentence is not completed, theme and rheme do not show themselves. Naturally, here we deal with the first sentence, which is introduced to the addressee. If there is a sentence before the first, then the addressee must receive the piece of information, must process it or must understand it. Different from the addressee, the addresser has possessed additional information, or knowledge. We do not mean general knowledge or information. We mean the information linked with the information which is formulated, established and which is related to the text. The reader comes to such a conclusion that the author - Den Brown knows Jacques Sauniere and is aware of his being a "taninmi§ kurator" (renowned curator).
The terms "given/known" and "new" which are used in the linguistic investigations often are used in the meanings of "theme" and "rheme". If we want to express the concrete meanings by these words, truly speaking, if we understand the real, new one which is not mentioned under the previous context, under the term "yeni" (new) which is known to us from the nearer context under the name of "verilan/ malum olan" (given, known), then we shall see that the notions of "theme" and "rheme" do not overlap with the notions of "verilan/malum olan" and "yeni" ("given/known" and "new") [4, p. 42].
Practically the theme of utterance very often expresses the "known", the "given" information. Nevertheless, as we have mentioned above the theme of the utterance may be unknown for the reader or listener. "New" may be the beginning of the chapter, paragraph of the narrated information. Many of the authors create a work of art in such a way, that in each extract the theme of each utterance becomes new. Let's pay attention to the examples. The first example which we set from Den Brown's work has been taken from the beginning of the work "Prologue". The extract begins as follows:
Robert Langdon awoke slowly.
A telephone was ringing in the darkness - a tinny, unfamiliar ring. He fumbled for the bedside lamp and turned it on. Squinting at his surroundings he saw a plush Renaissance bedroom with Louis XVIfurniture, hand-frescoed walls, and a colossal mahogany four-poster bed.
Where the hell am I?
The jacquard bathrobe hanging on his bedpost bore the monogram: HOTEL RITZ PARIS.
Slowly, the fog began to lift" [7].
Robert Langdon which is included into the first sentence of the first chapter is one of the personages and in the previous part of the literary piece; no information is given about him in the part Prologue. Namely, the author of the work begins the literary piece or communication process with new information and this information itself is incomplete. Only
name and surname give little information about the personage. Again the possible knowledge of the addresser possesses possibilities of giving additional information about the personage. Name, is not a French name, so, Langdon is not a French, he is an Englishman. The fact that the reader compares the achieved information with his being a French man is linked with the old information given in the prologue of the work. In the prologue it was spoken on Jacques Sauniere and this onomastic unit belongs to the onomastic system of the French language. In the first sentence new information takes place. But not any new information can be either a theme, or a rheme. In the first sentence, from the first glance Robert Langdon can be considered a theme and "oyanmadi" (awoke) can be considered a rheme. But the word "yava§-yava§" (slowly) completely changes the semantic panorama. If we compare the sentences "Langdon oyanmadi" (Langdon did not awake) or "Langdon yava§-yava§ oyandi" (Langdon awoke slowly) we feel the real semantic keeping away from the meaning. From the sentence "Langdon oyanmadi" (Langdon did not awake) we understand that he is still sleeping and from the sentence "Langdon yava§-yava§ oyandi" (Langdon awoke slowly) the addressee is given other information. Langdon has awoken, but the process of awakening demanded a certain pause in the duration oftime.
We come across expression of the two communicative parts of the utterance by different terms as logical subject and logical predicate, the main nuclear and the final point and nuclear, the given/ known and new, theme and rheme. Naturally the differentiation of naming does not influence on the differentiation of naming. No matter how it may be named, the theme is the subject and the rheme is what is spoken on the theme. As it is mentioned in the correct short sentences theme is a subject and rheme is a predicate. When the sentence is complex, changes take place in the subject of the information and in the utterances about which they are said. When the systematization of utterances are taken into consideration, or when the complex syn-
tactic whole consists of more than two sentences, in the established complex syntactic whole things become still more complicated. If we take the systematization of simple sentences, if we distribute their theme and rheme systematically we cannot break the meaning of a syntactic whole, or by distributing the subject and object of the sentences which follow one another systematically we can not achieve clear contents either.
"The crisp April air whipped through the open window of the Citroen ZX as it skimmed south past the Opera House and crossed Place Vendome. In the passenger seat, Robert Langdon felt the city tear past him as he tried to clear his thoughts. His quick shower and shave had left him looking reasonably presentable but had done little to ease his anxiety. The frightening image of the curator's body remained locked in his mind.
Jacques Sauniere is dead" [7] .
If we distribute this fragment by subject and predicate systematization it will be:
"Kulak vururdu; ma§in dondu; Lenqdon seyr edir; Lenqdon gali§irdi; Lenqdon du§ qabul etmi§di; Lenqdon gorunurdu; narahatliq sakitli§mirdi; §akil, meyit gakilmirdi".
In fact the given systematization is the systematization of simple sentences. If we mark subject with M and predicate with X we may show this systematization as follows: A = {M1, X1; M2, X2; M3, X3; M4, X4;
M5,Xs; M X6; M X7; M X8; M XJ
"A" is the structural scheme of complex syntactic whole of the first paragraph, given above. The subjects M4, M5, M6, and M7 have the same subjects or their themes are just the same and indicates the name of a person (Langdon). M2 and M3 are the names of "contents" the structural scheme given as the systematization of simple sentences, cannot give general information on the contents of the complex syntactic whole "A". So, as only the subject and predicate, which do not reveal the meaning of the sentence, the systematization of theme and rheme cannot create a clear imagination on the complete cognition of the information, given in the utterance.
5. Term distinctions
We observe that in the problems dealing with both the actual segmentation ofthe sentences, and text linguistics the same notions are expressed in different terms. We observe the usage of expressions, such as "potential syntax", "traditional syntax", "grammatical syntax" and generally "syntax" which are used as different variations of one another. The usage of the term "syntax" which was used in grammar for the first time, realized the expression of word combination with one term (for e.g. syntax-traditional syntax). But after the text syntax began to be studied, to differentiate two types of syntax took place, as a result of which the terms such as "text syntax", "contextual syntax", "communicative syntax", "functional syntax", "suprasyntax" began to be used as well. In linguistic study we often meet such terms as, "actual segmentation" or "actual division of sentences", which are expressed with other terminological word combinations as "communicative segmentation", "contextual segmentation", "segmentation as to theme and rheme", "functional perspective of the sentence" none of which has been chosen for the general usage yet, and terminological variety still remains as it is. From the view of domination of these terms, the terms "actual division" or "actual segmentation of sentences occupy" leading positions.
6. Initial investigation of actual segmentation of sentences
Investigations linked with actual segmentation of sentences, for the first time was carried out on the basis of the simple sentences. By this time the final point was the unextended simple sentences, sentences consisting of two components, on the basis of which stood justification of both the terms on such levels as grammatical division of sentences (subject-predicate) and actual segmentation of sentences. But the problem of specification of extended variants of actual division made the things more complicated, the demands to distinguish subject and predicate groups showed themselves as well. Investigations and analyses once more affirm that transition to actual segmentation is closely linked with the consid-
eration of issues of establishment, and building up of a text. The second important factor derives from the communicative purpose of the speaker, namely from the purpose of the person who establishes the text. Through their determination of forms grammatical means take part, going beyond the possibilities of grammar the field of semantics is involved as well.
Eventually, language realizes the communication via speech. One of the demands making the language inevitable in communication is exchange of information. As non-verbal means are unable to establish communication on the needed level, the demand of expressing the communication by verbal means appeared. A driver turns to a non-verbal participant as to the help of the traffic signs, placed on the sides of roads. The figure within a red circle marked with, let's say, 80, indicates the driver that driving the means of transport in higher speed than 80 km per hour is forbidden. By the indications of the apparatus located in the panel before the driver, predict on the speed of the means of transport, since the very moment that the driver sees the traffic sign. If the speed exceeds 80 km per hour, the driver lowers the speed below 80 km per hour. If the non-verbal red circle actualizes the understanding of banning, the figure within the circle actualizes the higher limit of speed. The sign of banning, being different from other traffic signs is important and importance of their being fixed on the sides of the roads are more important.
Informative road signs bear secondary characterization. For e.g. in what distance the driver is, between the two points of the road, and how many kilometers remain to reach the destination etc. The actualization degree of sending the information by these signs is lower. In the process of communication, built up by means of speech, attraction of the attention of the speaker, and sending the information to which the addresser has directed his attention is absolutely possible.
"We were sitting around the camp fire, some thirty miles north of place called Taqui, when Lawson announced his intention of finding a home" [8, p. 20].
In the given examples the word "when" used in the first sentence draws the attention to the part preceding it and actualizes it.
In the sentence used in Den Brown's work "Robert awoke slowly" the word "slowly" draws the attention of the addressee to the reason why Robert did not wake up immediately. In the prologue of the same sentence actualizing the personage's action - the reason of "Robert Lanqdon darhal oyanmadi" bringing it to the focus of attention is the expression "Sonyerin fikirb§diyi kimi da oldu" in the sentence "fikirb§diyi kimi". At the same time, this expression actualizes to find an answer to the question, "what Soner thought and what was it that happened?" Naturally "actualization" used in these explanations is not used in the completely same understanding as the expression used in linguistics as actual segmentation. The more the number of components which establish the sentence is the more number of information attracting the attention of addressee increases. But as we deal with the text, the following sentence weakens, deinfers a sertain part of information in the preceeding sentence, directs the addresser towards his/her communicative intention.
Thus, it becomes clear that there are plenty enough distinctions between grammatical division and actual segmentation and that the actual segmentation takes place as a result of actualization.
But actualization depending on different factors are realized by distinctive means.
7. Conclusion
Having studied the theme-contents parallels in a literary text, the author comes to the conclusion, that text and discourse are nearer to each other as to the contents, but different as to their aims and functions which they play. Texts have certain authors, whereas discourses lack this quality.
Information on the other distinctions about theme and rheme and subject and predicate relations are introduced. It is discovered that though the terms serve to express the same goals, their determination depends on the angle ofview with which we approach the problem.
In the consideration of the problem, utterance plays an important role. The term utterance in the linguistic study has found its different ways of expressions. No matter how the terms differ, they serve to express one and the same notion.
The author comes to the conclusion that only through actual segmentation of sentences we may achieve still deeper cognition of contents.
So, it becomes clear that there are plenty enough distinctions between grammatical division and actual segmentation and it may be concluded that actualization depends on different factors and is realized by different means.
8. References
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4. Kovtunova I. I. Modern Russian Language. Word order and actual division of sentences // Introduction to linguistics.- M.: Prosvesheniye,- 1976.- 239 p.
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