A COGNITIVE-PRAGMATIC STUDY OF PARALINGUISTIC FEATURES IN ENGLISH DISCOURSE

This article examines the cognitive and pragmatic dimensions of paralinguistic features in English discourse. Particular attention is devoted to the role of intonation, pitch, tempo, pauses, voice quality, laughter, and other non-verbal vocal phenomena in the construction and interpretation of meaning. Drawing upon contemporary research in pragmatics, cognitive linguistics, discourse analysis, sociolinguistics, and communication studies, the study demonstrates that paralinguistic features constitute an indispensable component of human communication. These features function not merely as supplementary elements accompanying verbal messages but as independent semiotic resources that contribute to the expression of emotions, attitudes, intentions, and interpersonal relations. The article further explores the interaction between language, cognition, and culture through the prism of paralinguistic phenomena and highlights their significance in English discourse.