THE ROLE OF ARTICULATION IN SHAPING A CHARACTER’S IMAGE

Abstract

The given article represents an attempt to comprehensively examine the articulatory characteristics of a personage as an effective means of individualising them in film discourse, particularly in the detective genre, as this topic remains under-researched and highly relevant. It has been determined that articulation serves as an important means in shaping a personage’s linguistic portrait, as it directly influences the viewer’s perception of their intellectual, psycho-emotional and social characteristics. The research material embraces the speech of the main personage in the British television series ‘Sherlock’, performed by Benedict Cumberbatch. Key articulatory and prosodic parameters, in particular tempo, rhythm, intonation, voice intensity, and pausing, and their role in conveying the personage’s inner dynamics, have been analysed. It has been established that variations in speech rate, clarity of diction and intonational flexibility serve to represent Sherlock Holmes’ intellectual superiority, analytical thinking and communicative dominance. It has been proved that intonational deviations and articulatory modifications are most frequently employed in situations of emotional tension, sarcastic remarks and moments of insight, serving as markers of the personage’s psycho-emotional state. It has been demonstrated that the use of dramatic pauses, changes in pitch level and control of the articulatory apparatus contribute to enhancing the expressiveness of speech and exerting a cognitive influence on the recipient. Particular attention has been paid to the relationship between articulation and the proxemic characteristics of communicative behaviour, which enables a deeper exploration of the psychological distance between characters. The study has found that articulatory means are a systemic factor in the creation of a charismatic and intellectually marked image, and their purposeful use by the actor ensures the manipulation of the viewer’s attention and the interpretation of the artistic image