REALISATION OF BRACKET SIGNALS IN BRITISH, AMERICAN AND GEORGIAN TALK SHOWS

Abstract

This paper deals with special signals which show that parts of the message are not right on-line with the message of the moment. On the basis of talk shows, these signals are examined according to setting, communicants‟ roles and culture. After a thorough study of linguistic and empirical data, verbal, non-verbal and paraverbal bracket signals have been classified; as a result, verbal and non-verbal signals have been singled out as initiators of bracket constructions. The study has revealed that bracket signals can be initiated by the speaker himself or by another person or they can be provoked by an external noise, fact or listener‟s reaction. Correspondingly, two groups of bracket signals can be distinguished: bracket signals initiated by the speaker and bracket signals initiated by external factor. Bracket signals are also classified according to their function and the following groups have been singled out: 1) showing opinion, 2) apologizing; 3) showing gratitude; 4) specifying something; 5) repairing; 6) giving advice; 7) asking for silence; 8) expressing emotion.

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