IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PHATIC FUNCTION IN THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE INTERNET COMMUNICATION: ECOLINGUISTIC FEATURES

Abstract

The article explores the ecolinguistic features of the implementation of the phatic function in the English-language Internetcommunication, which manifests the speakers' attitude to achieving emotional and intellectual mutual understanding at all phasesof communicative contact. The communicative space of the Internet, which is represented by online communication in chat rooms, social networks, instant messengers, forums, has become a kind of environment characterized by certain rules of ecological communication.Virtual discourse is created by a number of parameters, such as fragmentation and brevity, asynchrony and anonymity, the use of lexicalunits belonging to different styles and registers, the use of signs-symbols, abbreviated etiquette formulas for establishing, maintaining and breaking contacts, a specific communication channel, etc. The regulation of communicative interaction with the aim to ensure a healthypsychological state of speakers is becoming particularly topical due to the increasing uncertainty of the prospects for the interaction of man, society and nature. The predominance of phatic tonality over informative in virtual discourse takes place primarily due to the goals, values and genres of virtual discourse. The phatic function of language plays an important role in supporting the environmentalfriendliness of communication. It helps to establish a close contact, create a friendly atmosphere, maintain the interlocutor's attention,ensure the dynamics of online communication, and also signal the beginning or end of the conversation. Playful and humorous mood allows speakers to reduce the distance, as well as freely use any phatic means of written and oral spoken language, which is importantfor the effectiveness of communication in a situation of interaction with strangers in virtual discourse, where sincerity and openness todialogue correspond to the main principles of ecological communication.