Functions of focus particles in creolized texts (illustrated by modern caricatures)

The article deals with the specifics of the functioning of focus particles in creolized texts. The increasing role of visual information has led to the emergence of a large number of polycode texts, which are addressed by many interdisciplinary studies. The researchers mainly focus on lexical, rhetorical, and stylistic means, while functional parts of speech, in particular particles, are not studied enough, which determines the relevance of this article. As a hypothesis, it was assumed that the specificity of a caricature as a polycode text entails the specifics of the studied words functioning. As a result of the study, it was found that the specific functional features of focus particles are determined by critical goals pursued by caricatures, on the one hand, and by the presence of a visual component, on the other hand. It is noted that the polycode character of the caricature text affects the type and representation of ideas related by particles. Moreover, these ideas can be presented explicitly (verbally and/or visually) or implicitly. A new - synthesizing - function of focus particles is described, when the particles ensure connection between verbal and visual elements in a semiotically complicated text. In this case, the visual component can complement, clarify or contradict the verbal one, revealing additional meanings. It is established that particles are able to bring meaning and relevance to the information conveyed by iconic means, contributing to the achievement of a certain pragmatic effect, determined by the purpose of caricatures to give critical assessment of various factors of current socio-political life.