Semantics of spitting as a non-verbal means in V. P. Nekrasov's story "In the Trenches of Stalingrad"

The subject of the article is the description of non-verbal communication as one of the languages of the artistic text. The relevance of the article is determined by the attention of linguists to non-verbal means of communication, the role of which is especially increasing in artistic texts. Like words, non-verbal means can have multiple meanings, and their significance becomes clear only within the context. The material for analysis consisted of approximately 20 words and contexts of their usage from the lexico-semantic group "to spit." For a wartime narrative, these lexemes serve as an important artistic detail, an element of vivid imagery and a natural, living reflection of reality. V.P. Nekrasov's wartime story, published in 1946, is a unique work: it has been renamed three times and has undergone a path from the Stalin Prize to official prohibition. The return of V. Nekrasov's works to his homeland became possible only during the perestroika period starting in 1989, which explains the low degree of development of issues related to this artistic text. The methods of language material analysis included the method of studying theoretical sources, the method of complete sampling, the method of contextual analysis, the method of drawing on dictionary definitions, the method of describing the semantics of non-verbal means, and the method of generalization. The theoretical significance of the article lies in the fact that the algorithm for analyzing the semantics of non-verbal means will contribute to the clarification of categories such as point of view, author-narrator, hero-narrator, character, detail, and the cinematic quality of literary text. The scientific novelty of the article is related to the first-time analysis of one of the kinetic means in V. P. Nekrasov's story "In the Trenches of Stalingrad." The result of the conducted research was the discovery of 11 communicative meanings underlying the act of spitting: despair; magical semantics; decision-making; indifference and apathy; contempt and rejection; pleasure and satisfaction; order and calmness; strength and confidence; camaraderie; regret and sympathy; fullness. The analysis reveals contextual semes and semantic additions necessary for an adequate interpretation of the author’s intent. The conclusions drawn allow for classifying V. Nekrasov's story "In the Trenches of Stalingrad" among the phenomenal works about the Great Patriotic War, distinguished by historical accuracy and artistic value.