ARCHITECTONICS OF SMALL FORM TEXTS AND THE MEANS OF THEIR PRODUCTION

Abstract

The article is focused on the study of atypical small-form infographic texts devoted to COVID-19. Their specificity and differentiating features have been described in detail. It has been identified that a significant segment of the modern Englishlanguage mass media communication space is occupied by small-form texts, the content of which is revealed through separate blocks in the form of geometric shapes. Unlike traditional texts, the analyzed type requires the reader to choose his or her own reading strategy. Each of the shapes contains a certain idea that is logically revealed with the help of both verbal and non-verbal means, the latter of which often play a leading role. Texts with an unusual architectonics do not belong to the spectrum of texts that are easy to read and quickly perceived. They have a free reading strategy that does not fit into the classical format. Taken into account this fact, such texts can be read at the discretion of the recipient and the number of possible variations may be unlimited. It has been established that these types of texts are informationally unbalanced and graphically oversaturated due to the predominantly verbal component. Although the non-verbal component is intended to symbolize the presentation of information and often takes on the role of a leading communicative component, it is not always simple, easy and accessible for understanding, and therefore for perception. Each of the analyzed texts contains a verbal component that, on the one hand, clarifies and specifies the content, and on the other hand, distracts attention and does not allow focusing on the main information. The analyzed texts are characterized by blocky and non-linear presentation of information. In two cases, each block contains extensive information due to the verbal component. The background of the texts is mostly pastel, which indicates the importance of the information and the serious nature of the topic. The visual component in these texts is intended to emphasize the most important aspects. Varying the font and color is intended to highlight those fragments that should be paid attention to in the first place.