The Composition and Boundaries of Paragraphemics

In modern linguistics, a more broadened understanding of paragraphemics has taken hold, which contradicts the existing understanding of paralinguistics and paralanguage. If we assume that paralanguage includes phenomena that cannot exist without a spoken or written utterance, but are not part of the language system, then paragraphemics should be limited to the variation of type face design (supragraphemics) and the spatial position of the text on the page (topographhemics). This implies, firstly, the exclusion of all the elements of graphics, which is understood as a system of segmental means of written speech and includes not only alphabetic but also non-alphabetic graphemes (punctuation marks, ideographic signs, etc.), and secondly, the integration of the text and image. The exclusion of syngraphhemics (non-alphabetic signs and their non-normative use) from the composition of paragraphemics allows us to clearly contrast the paragraphic variation and graphic play.