Speech implementation of the local strategy of establishing and maintaining contact: tactic of fascination (based on Larry King’s talk show)

Abstract

Introduction. The article analyses speech implementation of the local strategy of establishing and maintaining contact, mainly tactic of fascination used in Larry King’s talk show. The specifics of Larry King’s talk show and its communicative and pragmatic focus on conducting a cooperative, conflict-free and tolerant dialogue within this genre determine the use of a wide range of positive politeness strategies and tactics. And as the tactic of fascination is a dominant one within this very talk show, the choice of its study became evident. The author also outlines the linguistic and lexico-grammatical means of implementing the fascination tactic on the lexical and syntactic levels.

The purpose of this article is to outline the peculiarities of speech realization of the fascination tactic in Larry King’s talk show from the point of view of politeness.

To achieve the purpose of the article, the following linguistic research methods were used: descriptive, scientific, and deductive.

Results. The study reflects the linguistic realization of the fascination tactic in a talk show, which within its framework is an act of individual speech creativity of the host and his interlocutor, striving for sophistication, originality and expression of a positive evaluative statement.

Originality. The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the fascination tactic in the English-language television discourse of talk shows based on Larry King’s program, taking into account its functional load, namely the expression of the addresser’s friendly attitude to the addressee.

Conclusion. The fascination tactic is widely used in Larry King’s talk show. Its main function is to expresses the addresser's friendly attitude towards the addressee and to help to bring the interlocutors closer in communication. It tactic is implemented by different linguistic and lexico- grammatical means at the lexical and syntactic levels.