The article “Aspects of imagery. Literature” is devoted to literature aspect of imagery use. Using a number of persuasive techniques and sticking to the scientific style the author of the article proves the necessity to treat imagery not only as a means of poetry, but also as an object of cognitive psychology.

Lexis. Literature terms abound in the article: metaphors, symbols, allegories. We can also see a number of clichés typical of any scientific article: “to qualify as”, “considered as”, “most frequently described”, “in … terms”, “recent studies on … reveal”.

Tabakowska does not avoid though using metaphors that can be described as “dead” metaphors specific to the language of science: “the soul of poetry”, “to depict things”, “reflect a highly creative and productive function”.

Syntax. Most sentences are compound: “This, however, is just a single aspect of a more general phenomenon: the general ability “to depict things” is a fundamental property of human language, and “linguistic meaning is (in part) imagery, or at least is closely linked to imagery”.

Passive constructions are often used: “understood as”, “Considered as”, “is most frequently described”.

The sequence of paragraphs in the text and sentences in paragraphs is logical and has a clear indication of their interrelations and interdependence.

The first paragraph is introductory and describes the false standpoint on imagery. The next descriptive paragraphs reveal the author’s ideas on the problem. They consist of argumentative sentences – the quotations, and formulative sentences – the author’s comments on the quotations. The last paragraph which is a narrative one with postulatory sentences is a conclusion:  we should distinguish “poetic imagery and imagery as a psychological process”.

The sentences are connected with the help of different conjunctions: “however”, “in this sence” etc.

Another feature of the article that strikes the eye of the reader is the use of quotations and references. They have a definite compositional pattern: the name of the writer referred to, the year it was published, the page of the excerpt quoted or referred to: “Paivio 1971:435″, “Lakoff & Turner 1989:54,80″. Tabakowska also uses a foot-note: “All modifiers come from Shelley’s Preface to “Prometheus Unbound” (Shelley 1982)”. It is used not to violate the requirement of logical coherence of ideas – the author’s study on imagery.

The author tries to persuade the reader that imagery is typical not only of poetic language but of texts of all styles. For this purpose she uses such persuasive technique as appeal to authority quoting a number of famous linguists: Lakoff, Jakobson etc proving that the information is reliable.

         All these interweaving features create objective, precise, unemotional language of the article.

By Perfect English