Russian Sentimentalism through the Lens of Punctuation Stylistics

This study offers an analysis of punctuation stylistics in Russian sentimentalist literature, focusing on the deliberate use of punctuation marks to align with the aesthetic principles of this literary movement. The research material is drawn from the first publication of Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin's novella “ Poor Liza ”, which appeared in his own journal “ Moscow magazine ” in 1792. The relevance of this investigation lies in its application of a specific historical approach that takes into account both the particularities of late eighteenth-century Russian punctuation usage and codification practices as well as broader European sentimental trends. It has been established that the stylistic hallmark of Russian sentimentalism involves the linguistic expression of emotional sensitivity accompanying narrative dynamics, capable of evoking empathy in readers. In objectifying this stylistic focus, special prominence is given to a microsystem consisting of question marks, exclamation points, dashes, and ellipses. The expressive deployment of these four punctuation marks allows for precise graphic representation of emotionally charged speech by narrators and characters alike. Ultimately, it is concluded that the emergence of punctuation stylistics finds its roots specifically within Russian sentimentalism.