The Stylistic Nature of the Theory of Foregrounding in the Literary Text

Abstract

The theory of foregrounding plays an integral part in the way a reader perceives and decodes linguistic expression, whereas construal process allows for dynamic categorization and portrayal of a situation with the help of a big diversity of linguistic means. By means of classification of construing phenomena, scholars identified key dimensions such as attention, judgment, perspective and constitution, elucidating intricate mechanisms of comprehension and expression of language. The article touches on two types of saliencies in cognitive linguistics such as cognitive and ontological salience. It also underscores Langacker’s notion of “entrenchment” and investigates the concepts of communicative salience, gearing towards profiling and trajectory / landmark alignment to set forth how attention is directed in linguistic expressions. The article examines the theory of foregrounding in cognitive linguistics and its correlation with construal operation. It sheds light on how language shapers perception and categorization of situation, participants and their features through a wide range of construal phenomenon. The article dives into various classifications and subcategories of construal phenomenon, highlighting the way attention, judgment, perspective and constitution play a part in language input and output. The article sets forth complex interplay of language, cognitive operations and salience, in particular within the framework of cognitive linguistics. The article investigates how language means and structures contribute to the foregrounding of prominent conceptual elements and decoding scenes and situations. The scientific work explores a wide range of notions of salience in literary analysis, primarily focusing on Leech and Short’s concepts of literary relevance, psychological prominence and statistical deviance. The article delves into the way these notions cooperate with one another and contribute to subjective recognition of style in literary texts. Moreover, it explores the role of figure and ground in the theory of foregrounding emphasizing how original and striking linguistic means, or “figures” stand out from conventional linguistic elements, aka. “ground” contributing to actualization and creative presentation of the world in literature. Overall, the scientific article emphasizes dynamic process of stylistic analysis and the function of literature in presenting the world in a novel and creative manner.