Перемикання кодів „літературна мова – діалект” в епістолярному спілкуванні родини Косачів

A dominant stylistic feature of epistolary communication, as linguists commonly define it, is spontaneity. Another significant characteristic is the use by both sender and recipient of two forms of the common national language: literary and dialectal. This reflects the natural process of switching between these two linguistic codes, with varying degrees of explicitness and a clear predominance of literary language, especially in the correspondence of the Kosach family – most notably between the mother, Olha Petrivna Drahomanova-Kosach, and her children. This chapter examines the primary factors influencing the switching and integration of these two linguistic elements within their letter exchanges. The analysis reveals that the Western Polissian dialect significantly shaped their epistolary communication. Additionally, it is shown that the use of dialectal elements in the Kosach family letters varies grammatically, encompassing individual words (most frequently), phrases, and sentences (especially traditional Volhynian-Polissian expressions and etiquette formulas). The extent of dialectal elements is largely recipient-dependent, with dialect use being most regular in the communication between the Kosach children and their mother.

literary language, dialect, epistolary texts, family communication.