FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE TRAVEL DISCOURSE

Abstract

The article analyzes the functional features of English-language travel discourse as a type of social communication, which is studied as a specialized discourse. The topicality is defined by the development of the travel industry and the formation of the language of tourism as a separate type of discourse. Analysis of the English-language travel texts (brochures, advertising messages, digital advertising, etc.) shows the use of various language tools in accordance with the purpose set for the message. This makes it possible to determine the functions of the language of tourism, among which there are main and secondary ones. The author uses the terminology of Roman Jacobson for detailing the functional features of the language of tourism. The primacy of the informative and incentive function of tourist discourse is emphasized. The informative function is characterized by such features as polyhistory, popularization, polycode nature, and evaluation. Having a close connection with the meaning of the message, the informative function is crucial during communication (the communicative aspect of influencing the addressee is emphasized). Secondary functions – emotional, phatic, metalingual, and aesthetic – support the effective use of basic functions. It is noted that in travel texts, an important role is played by non-verbal elements (pictures, music, images, etc.), but the primary tool for informative and incentive functions is still language. In the English-language texts selected for analysis, the author finds frequent use of the Present Simple tense and an incentive to act expressed with Imperative structures. The text is often descriptive. A characteristic feature of travel discourse is the use of a large number of adjectives, which are often used in the superlative degree of comparison. During the study, the main functional characteristics of travel discourse are declared to be informative, evaluative, motivating, and convincing.