Information Structure of Comparisons of Inequality in Old English Riddles

  • L. P. Kalytiuk
Keywords: comparisons of inequality, information packaging, іnformation structure, Old English riddles, prosopopoeia

Abstract

This investigation focuses on information packaging in comparative structures of inequality in Old English riddles in The Exeter Book dating back to the 10th century. It is maintained that comparisons do not act as an economical way to introduce new information to the recipient, on the contrary the said structures serve the purpose of misleading, misdirecting, obscuring the riddllee and in doing so the riddler builds blocks which hinder the identification of the riddling entity. The latter though inanimate can take voices, selfpresenting through semantically diffuse personal deixis (known as prosopopoeia). Also the main canonical principle of information structure ‘old comes before new’ is violated in the said polipredicative sentences. The information packaging of comparisons of inequality in Old English riddles takes the form: ‘unknown to the recipient + new but known from the previous experience’. The riddler wraps the information so that it involves the recipient’s exophoric context, often culturally bound. Old Norse and Gothic comparisons are contrasted in order to shape the specificity of the Old English comparisons of inequality in riddling practice.

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Published
2020-12-06
How to Cite
Kalytiuk, L. P. (2020). Information Structure of Comparisons of Inequality in Old English Riddles. Scientific Journal of National Pedagogical Dragomanov University. Series 9. Current Trends in Language Development, (20), 64-74. https://doi.org/10.31392/NPU-nc.series9.2020.20.05