Sarmina A. Communicative features of blackmail letters in German.

This thesis examines blackmail letters in German, which determine their communicative, functional and pragmalinguistic features, and provide an overview of latest research on the topic. The author introduces theoretical and practical framework applied for the analysis of blackmail letters in German, comprehensively describes the term "blackmail letter," and systematizes basic approaches to determine the type a "blackmail letter text". The author identifies internal and external components in the structure of blackmail letters and offers their original analysis. The work provides an in-depth analysis into the nature and sociolinguistic character of blackmail communication. Furthermore, the study examines the main linguistic features of blackmail letters and systematizes their morphology, syntax and vocabulary. It also describes the main nonverbal means used in blackmail letters and determines their role and functions. Finally, the author describes the key communicative strategies and tactics used while blackmailing, identifies and classifies language units activized for their implementation.