Syntactic Stylistic Devices of Speech Manipulation in the English-Language Lifestyle Media Discourse

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of manipulative syntactic stylistic devices in the English language based on the articles about style, fashion, trends and their place in the sweepingly emerging lifestyle discourse. The relevance of this research is due to the dynamics of the pragmatic design of speech in connection with current changes in the fashion world and society’s attitude to modern trends. The purpose is to systematize manipulative syntactic devices in the English-language media discourse in connection with the actualization of self-expression, individuality, and originality.  The study of how these principles are promoted in media discourse could make a significant contribution to discursive research. Articles about style, fashion and trends from the quality press and lifestyle magazines were selected as the empirical material. As a result, the identified devices were subjected to functional and stylistic analysis, which made it possible to classify the main communicative purposes for which various syntactic stylistic devices are used. The authors come to the conclusion that the use of syntactic stylistic devices is conditioned by the manipulative potential of the lifestyle discourse and is concentrated around the following functions:  insisting on a certain opinion or attitude, exaggerating the value, endearing the reader.