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PRACTICAL PROBLEMS ANO SOLUTIONS TO THE USE OF THEORETICAL LAWS IN THE SCIENCES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
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STYLISTIC-EVALUATIVE FUNCTIONS OF CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
IN ENGLISH
Islom Minnikulov1, Bakhrom Urolov2
1Doctor of Philosophy in Philological Sciences (PhD), Head of Department of English Language Applied Subjects, First English Faculty, Uzbekistan State University of World Languages, Tashkent,100000, Uzbekistan 2Lecturer, University of Tashkent for Applied Science, Department of Foreign Language and Literature,
Tashkent,100000, Uzbekistan 1Email: mr.islom19@gmail.com; 2Email: oralovbahrom@gmail.com https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13164855
Abstract: This research analyzes the stylistic-evaluative functions of conditional sentences in English. In particular, we analyze the functions of conditional sentences in English on the material of literary texts. The corpus data for our analysis are literary works of English writers. The research materials are conditional sentences of the literary texts in English. The procedure of analysis goes through the following stages: linguistic and extralinguistic context consideration, sample analysis, interpretation, functional analysis. The results of our study show that conditional sentences in English literary texts are used to evaluate people (psychological, physical, intellectual qualities), things (physical, economic qualities) and phenomenon (environmental features) both positively and negatively.
Keywords: syntactic stylistics, conditional sentences, conditional clauses, condition, conditional markers, evaluative function, axiology, language function
1 INTRODUCTION
There are different approaches to the study of conditionality in linguistics. In particular, the problem of conditionality is issued in the following aspects: structural, semantic, functional, cognitive, cultural, pragmatic and so on. However, it is necessarily important to note that the problem should be also researched from an axiological viewpoint. Conditional sentences can carry out several evaluative functions in literary texts.
Therefore, we believe that it is important to deal with stylistic-evaluative functions of the conditional sentences used in the literary texts of English writers. The aim of the study is to reveal stylistic-evaluative functions of conditional sentences in English literary texts. The potential of conditional sentences to perform certain stylistic-evaluative functions can be best revealed when it is analyzed in the literary texts. Currently, the problem of conditionals is studied from the following perspectives: pragmatic (Shizawa Takashi (2011); Juman Adnan Al-Abbass (2012)); I. Minnikulov
(2020)) pragmatic-cognitive (Juan A. García- Madruga, Sergio Moreno-Ríos, Ana Cristina Quelhas & Csongor Juhos (2009)), pragmatic-discoursive (Britta Grusdt, Daniel Lassiter, Michael Franke (2021); Yujing Yang
(2021); Maria Cheng (2002)); neuro-psychological (Jiang Qiu, Hong Li, Xiting Huang, Fenghua Zhang, Antao Chen, Yuejia Luo, Qinglin Zhang, Hong Yuan), cognitive (O. Espino, I. Sánchez-Curbelo and G.M. Ramírez; P.N. Johnson-laird and Ruth M.J. Byrne) and etc. It should be noted that the linguists named above
deal with the problem of conditionals from the perspective of the anthropocentric paradigm of linguistics.
2 MaTERIALS AND METHODS
We strongly encourage authors to use this document This research is qualitative by its nature. The research methodology is based on qualitative research design. The research is theoretical-practical as it develops some theoretical research principles such as generalizations, comparison, contrast, analysis, synthesis, critical review, and so on, and deals with the analysis of the material in question. In this study, the following linguistic analysis methods are used: linguistic description, interpretation, stylistic analysis, etc. The language material used for analysis is conditional sentences of literary texts in English. The object of research is conditional sentences in English literary texts.
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
It is important to analyze stylistic-evaluative functions of conditional sentences in English literary texts as follows: The procedure of analysis goes like this: linguistic context, extralinguistic context, the target sentence, its analysis and interpretation, its citation referencing.
1. "Thank you. You make me happy. I hope no fish will come along so great that he will prove us wrong." "There is no such fish if you are still strong as you say." "I may not be as strong as I think," the old man said. "But I know many tricks and I have a
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resolution."(Ernest Hemingway, "The Old Man and the Sea", 1952, 11).
It is obvious that the conditional sentence in bold has a stylistic coloring in this context. It contains the following stylistic features: order of clauses such as the position of the main clause before the subordinate clause. The aim of this is to emotionally highlight the idea in the main clause. By doing so, it is evaluating the physical quality of a character (here the old man) and this is a positive evaluation of the physical quality of a person which is assessed on the basis of behavioral, social, human values such as strength and power.
2. I will have lost two hundred fathoms of good Catalan cardel and the hooks and leaders. That can be replaced. But who replaces this fish if I hook some fish and it cuts him off? I don't know what that fish was that took the bait just now. It could have been a marlin, a broadbill or a shark. I never felt him. I had to get rid of him too fast (Ernest Hemingway, "The Old Man and the Sea", 1952, 25).
The example shows that question form of the main clause with intensifier "but", enumeration of subordinate clauses, ellipsis of the conjunction "if" in the enumerated subordinate clauses are the main indicators of the stylistic aspect of the conditional sentence in question. It is aimed that it is to show inner feelings of a character. This conditional sentence in bold is used to evaluate the fish as irreplaceable yet other things such as cardel, hooks and leaders are replaceable. The linguistic and extralinguistic context can enable us to infer such meaning from this conditional sentence.
3. Just then the fish gave a sudden lurch that pulled the old man down onto the bow and would have pulled him overboard if he had not braced himself and given some line (Ernest Hemingway, "The Old Man and the Sea" 1952, 27).
As it is observed from the example, there is an ellipsis of the subject of the main clause. As a result, the emotional and psychological state of the character is revealed: the aim is to describe the physical ability and power of a character. The evaluative function of this conditional sentence is to evaluate the size and strength of the fish and cleverness of the old man such as bracing himself and having some line.
4. Maybe it will open when the strong raw tuna is digested. If I have to have it, I will open it, cost whatever it costs. But I do not want to open it now by force. Let it open by itself and come back of its own accord (Ernest Hemingway, "The Old Man and the Sea", 1952, 29).
It can be stated that the enumeration of main clauses, ellipsis of the subject in the enumerated main clause are important to make the sentence in bold stylistically
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marked. The aim is to show the inner feelings of a character, personal characteristics as well. The evaluative function of this conditional sentence is to evaluate the patience of the old man, this meaning is implicitly inferred from the context.
5. If there is a hurricane you always see the signs of it in the sky for days ahead, if you are at sea. They do not see it ashore because they do not know what to look for, he thought (Ernest Hemingway, "The Old Man and the Sea", 1952, 30).
As it is analyzed in this example, the stylistic potential of the sentence is determined by the following: enumeration of subordinate clauses. The aim is to describe a natural phenomenon like a hurricane more expressively and emotively. The evaluation of the hurricane, its nature is done via the conditional sentence here. That's to say, the sentence shows how strong and catastrophic the hurricane is.
6. His dress was very plain and simple, and the fashion of it between the Asiatic and the European; but he had on his head a light helmet of gold, adorned with jewels, and a plume on the crest. He held his sword drawn in his hand to defend himself, if I should happen to break loose; it was almost three inches long; the hilt and scabbard were gold enriched with diamonds (Jonathan Swift, "Gulliver's Travels" 1727, 27).
As the analyses show that ungrammaticality of "should" after "if' is a factor which determines the stylistic aspect of the sentence in bold. To reach an emotional effect, the writer uses such language means. The evaluative function of the conditional sentence here is to evaluate the sword and its quality such as size, material and appearance.
7. From the left fob he took out a net almost large enough for a fisherman, but contrived to open and shut like a purse, and served him for the same use: we found therein several massy pieces of yellow metal, which, if they are real gold, must be of immense value (Jonathan Swift, "Gulliver's Travels", 1727, 34).
As analysis shows the stylistic aspect of the conditional sentence is revealed by the order of clauses: inversion of subordinate clause: the arrangement of a subordinate clause within a main clause, the use of an infinitive form of the verb "to be" without its conjugation form in the subordinate clause, the use of conditional sentence (both parts) in the structure of a relative clause. The aim is to express the emotional state of a character. The evaluative function of the conditional sentence here is to evaluate gold as the most valuable metal among other types of metal.
8. In the female nurseries, the young girls of quality are educated much like the males, only they are dressed by orderly servants of their own sex; but always in the
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PRACTICAL PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO THE USE OF THEORETICAL LAWS IN THE SCIENCES OF THE 2IST CENTURY
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presence of a professor or deputy, till they come to dress themselves, which is at five years old. And if it is found
that these nurses ever presume to entertain the girls with frightful or foolish stories, or the common follies practiced by chambermaids among us, they are publicly whipped thrice about the city, imprisoned for a year, and banished for life to the most desolate part of the country (Jonathan Swift, "Gulliver's Travels", 1727, 71).
As the example shows the use of an infinitive form of the verb "to be" without its conjugation form in the subordinate clause, enumerated parts of both subordinate and main clauses are the main indicators of the stylistics of the conditional sentence. The aim is to give an emotional impact on the listener. The evaluation of the conditional sentence is to evaluate negatively the action of such young nurses by such as presume to entertain the girls with frightful or foolish stories, or the common follies by punishing them.
9. He said, the friendship between you and him was so well known to the world, that perhaps the most honorable board might think him partial; however, in obedience to the command he had received, he would freely offer his sentiments. That if his majesty, in consideration of your services, and under his own merciful disposition, would please to spare your life, and only give orders to put out both your eyes, he humbly conceived, that by this expedient justice might in some measure be satisfied, and all the world would applaud the lenity of the emperor, as well as the fair and generous proceedings of those who have the honor to be his counselors (Jonathan Swift, "Gulliver's Travels", 1727, 81).
Analysis of the sentence. Inversion of some parts of a subordinate clause, enumeration of main clauses are peculiarities of stylistic style. The aim is to exert an emotional effect. This conditional sentence is used to evaluate the mercifulness, generosity and other good qualities of an emperor.
As results of our research, we outline the following implications as described in the table below: Table 1: Evaluative function of conditional sentences in literary texts of English (examples are derived from Ernest Hemingway's "The Old Man and the Sea", (1952) and Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels", (1727))
People Psychological (patience), physical (strength, power), intellectual (cleverness) qualities of a person The action of a person
Things Physical (size, strength, material), economic (value) features of a thing, animate/inanimate object Not observed
Phenomenon Not observed Natural phenomenon such as hurricane (its environmental effects)
Scale of Positive Negative
evaluation
Object of
evaluation
3 CONCLUSIONS
Conditional sentences in English literary texts can perform several functions which is important to decode the conceptual content of the literary texts. The conceptual layer of the text is revealed by the analysis of the emotive, expressive, imaginative, stylistic, pragmatic components of the text. So, conditional sentences are stylistically marked in order to reveal such functions as mentioned. The conditional sentences carry out the following functions when they are stylistically marked: to express emotional, psychological, physical states of a person as well as to increase emotionality, expressiveness, emotiveness of the speech. More significantly, it is noted that conditional sentences in literary texts can carry out an evaluative function. According to the results of the research, the following conclusions can be drawn:
a) The evaluative nature of conditionals in English is revealed by linguistic and extralinguistic contexts;
b) The evaluative function of conditionals is mainly characterized in literary texts as they can contribute to the fulfillment of the macro-functions of literary texts such as expressiveness, emotiveness, imagery creation; and as a result, they can help decode the conceptual content of the literary texts;
The conditional sentences (selected for our analysis) in literary texts of English are used to evaluate people (psychological, physical, intellectual qualities), things
PPSUTLSC-2024
PRACTICAL PROBLEMS ANO SOLUTIONS TO THE USE OF THEORETICAL LAWS IN THE SCIENCES OF THE 2IST CENTURY
tashkent, o-8 may 2004 www.in-academy.uz
(physical, economic qualities) and phenomenon (environmental features) both positively and negatively
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