Pragmatism of the English motivational discourse

The article addresses the problem of functional characteristics and style of the discourse of popular psychology in English. The research asserts correlation between the speech and the text representation and the speaker’s intentions as well as defines the pragmatic potential of motivational literature written in English. The identification of pragmatic traits of the discourse is held by comparison with the academic style of speaking that represents the original branch of the style framework. A question about the difference between persuasion and suggestion as two major techniques applied in academic and popular science papers is given special attention. The conclusions arrived at in the course of the research argue style ambiguity of the motivational coaching and its secondary status with reference to the scientific knowledge. This type of discourse comprises formal and essential features of academic, journalistic, fictional, and informal styles. Argumentative techniques practiced in academic and popular science discourse actually coincide in their pragmatic effect on the recipient, however varying in its verbal representation. Along with this, English motivational discourse to a high degree involves the suggestive method of influence on a listener or reader, appealing to their emotions and imagination. Examples of the works on personal development and self-help evolvement manifest clear-cut genre identity and in the equal measure its heterogeneity.