Ad-Hoc Lexical Units as Markers of Communicative Strategies in the TV-Series. "Sex and the City"

Abstract

The paper aims at elucidating the manipulative potential of ad-hoc word-formation in the TV series through the prism of linguocognitive and pragmatic approaches. The prospects of identifying communicative strategies that underlie ad-hoc words in the dramedy lay grounds to contemplating their role as markers of the manipulative impact optimization. The paper proposes to elucidate the role of various word-building types of ad-hoc units in construing memorable characters that the viewing audience can identify with by means of the integrated linguocognitive and communicative analysis. Given that the telecinematic discourse presents a complex multimodal unity, operating at two levels: diegetic and extradiegetic, the author argues that ad-hoc units realize communicative strategies of self-presentation and characterization at both in-film and through-film levels, correlating with the two key functions of dramedy: attraction and manipulation. Various word- building types of ad-hoc units that serve as markers of the self-presentation strategy help the main female characters express themselves while the collective author is construing an image of a charismatic and independent thirty-something heroine. Ad-hoc units that realize the characterization strategy are mainly used in witty friendly banters (diegetic level) to highlight stereotypical relationships problems.