ON THE STUDY OF STAGE DIRECTIONS IN DRAMATIC TEXTS
Keywords:
Stage direction, authorial remark, dramatic text, dramatic discourse, authorial modality, character speech, dramatic structure, linguistic analysis, communicative function, remark classification.Abstract
This article examines the linguistic nature and functional role of stage directions as a fundamental component of dramatic text. The study aims to identify their distinctive features in comparison with other structural elements of drama, as well as to analyze their contribution to the formation and interpretation of dramatic discourse. Special attention is given to the role of stage directions in conveying authorial intention, character psychology, and the spatiotemporal framework of the dramatic work. Drawing on existing research in Russian and Western linguistics, the paper explores the evolution, classification, and communicative functions of stage directions. It is argued that stage directions should not be regarded merely as auxiliary elements but as an essential and independent textual unit that participates in shaping the semantic, pragmatic, and stylistic organization of dramatic text. The findings demonstrate that stage directions function as a key mechanism for expressing authorial modality, guiding stage performance, and enhancing the reader’s and viewer’s interpretation of dramatic action.
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