EMOTIONAL-EXPRESSIVE AND STYLISTIC FUNCTIONS OF PUNCTUATION IN LITERARY TEXTS

Abstract

This article examines the emotional-expressive and stylistic functions of punctuation in literary texts. It argues that punctuation operates not merely as a syntactic device but as a multifunctional semiotic resource that contributes to the construction of meaning, the representation of the author’s aesthetic intention, and the shaping of reader response. Drawing on stylistic, pragmatic, and discourse-analytic approaches, the study explores how punctuation marks convey emotional states, create rhythmic and intonational patterns, and generate dramatic effects. The findings demonstrate that punctuation plays a crucial role in the formation of authorial style and in enhancing the expressive potential of literary discourse