Non-verbal means of communication in the representation of the emotional state of joy in modern English fictional discourse

Abstract

This article concerns the study of the non-verbal means of communication designating the emotional state of joy which are present in fictional discourse. The functional peculiarities of non-verbal means designating the emotional state of joy are specified. It is proved that the register of nonverbal components indicating joy includes facial expressions, gestures, phonation, and the like. The subsystems of kinesic and phonatory non-verbal components are the dominant ones. Fictional discourse including representations of joy contains both verbal and non-verbal means of designating the emotional state, functioning either separately or in interaction. This interaction is based on the concept of emotional valence and is represented in repetition, contradiction, substitution, complementation, emphasis and regulation. In an utterance, non-verbal means can occur in the initial, medial, and final positions. The most common models of the occurrence of non-verbal components denoting joy in utterances are revealed.