Pragmalinguistic representation of the olfactory image: gender aspect (based on German-language fiction)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the review of the olfactory image representation in fiction. The relevance of the research is determined by the linguists' interest in description of the linguistic features of the designation of odoric sensations in the pragmalinguistic aspect. In this regard, relevant is the linguo-pragmatic study of the olfactory image formation and means of its description in German. The purpose of the article is a description of the means and methods of forming of men and women olfactory image in the German language. The material of the research were the examples from German-language fiction works that are part of the national German language corps DWDS. In total, 1184 text fragments from 30 works by German-speaking authors were analyzed. In this research, the authors describe in detail the structure of the lexical-semantic field “smell” in German, which is used to form olfactory images in a gender aspect and acts as a pragmatic marker. Based on the analysis of text fragments, the authors describe the means of olfactory images forming of men and women. The analysis shows that the olfactory image of a woman focuses on the pleasant smell that occurs while using cosmetics and while mentioning the woman’s natural smell. By describing an olfactory image of a man, vocabulary with a negative connotation dominates, and the “unpleasant smell” acts as a marker. Quantitative results of the study showed that the prevailing female image is positive, which causes positive emotions in the reader, while negative is prevailing by creating a male olfactory image. This pattern can be explained by social expectations from a woman who, in any circumstances, should look attractive. A negative olfactory image of a man can be an indicator of his masculinity, strength.