Vorobyova M. Allusion in English publicistic discourse: structure, semantics, functioning

This research focuses on functioning of allusive means in English publicistic discourse. The study of allusive means within the framework of the theory of intermediality allows analyzing the peculiarities of transcoding signs oriented to different channels of information perception into verbal signs. The method of fuzzy sets theory makes it possible to define the genre characteristics of English publicistic texts and, consequently, enhance the process of allusive means identification in a text. The dissertation offers a formula for calculating the index of allusion fuzziness. The study reveals that the higher is the index of allusion fuzziness in English publicistic discourse, the less complete and adequate is the actualized allusive content. It has been assumed that the mechanism of allusive content actualization in English publicistic discourse is a reconstruction of a source text frame and its extrapolation on the general frame (or one of the subframes) of the recipient text. Allusion as a means of realization of intermedial connections enables the text to increase the quantity of code systems of communication contained in it and, consequently, to intensify the effect produced on the addressee of the English publicistic text. Key words: allusion, index of allusion fuzziness, intermediality, transcoding.