Information on the thesis

The dissertation focuses on the study of the language personality of the serial killer character based on the American fiction of the 20th century.

The structure of the language personality of the serial killer character is investigated at the verbal-semantic, linguo-cognitive and motivational levels taking into account linguistic features at the exponential, substantive and intentional levels. Three main semantic fields, viz. “Mental activity” (40%), “Psychological needs” (16%) and “Physiological activity and security” (44%) were revealed at the verbal-semantic level of the language personality of the serial killer character which indicates a prevalence of biological over spiritual in the lives of serial killer characters.

At the linguo-cognitive level of the language personality of the serial killer character, the following conceptual metaphors were singled out: structural metaphors MURDER IS PLEASURE, MURDER IS THEATER, MURDER IS A GAME; ontological metaphors THE MIND IS A MACHINE, THE MIND IS A THING, LIFE IS A CONTAINER, LIFE IS A THING, DEATH IS A PERSON; orientational metaphors GOOD IS UP, BAD IS DOWN; HAPPY IS UP, SAD IS DOWN; HAVING CONTROL or FORCE IS UP, BEING SUBJECT TO CONTROL or FORCE IS DOWN which conceptualize the outlook of this language personality.

At the motivation level of the language personality of the serial killer character the communicative roles were studied. The findings showed that the characters perform the categorial role of killer and, other categorical roles according to their social status and professions (doctor, reporter, director, etc.); the operative roles of thinker, joker and host of the situation; the relative role of friend.

The psycholinguistic side of the character’s discourse was revealed through the study of the coefficients of embolism, aggressiveness and lexical diversity, as well as the nonverbal behavior of the language personality. The serial killer characters’ coefficient of lexical diversity is average (14) and high (16 – 17), which indicates good command of the language, as well as the intelligence of the language personality. The coefficient of aggressiveness, for the determination of which the quantity of verbs is taken into account, varies from 17 to 23, which is high and indicates an aggressive character of the language personality and their anxiety. The coefficient of embolism is also high (6 – 7) and illustrates low culture of serial killer characters’ language.

Nonverbal behavior of the language personality is studied on the basis of kinesic, prosodic and proxemic components. Kinesic components (43%) are the most frequently used nonverbal components, which help the characters express their agreement or disagreement with a communicative partner and supplement the verbal message. Prosodic components (37%) help identify introversion in the language personality. Proxemic nonverbal components (20%) are mostly means of showing negative intentions (threats, intimidation). Psycholinguistic analysis of the serial killer character’s discourse coincides with the real serial killer’s and proves the credibility of this character’s image in American fiction of the 20^th century.

The perspective of the research lies in further study of the language personality of the serial killer character thorough analysis of specific lexical means involving pragmatic approach and identifying gender, social, ethnic and cultural features of their discourse.

Key words: language personality, verbal-semantic, cognitive, motivational, exponential, substantial, intentional levels of language personality, semantic field, conceptual metaphor, communicative role, nonverbal communication components.