FUNCTION OF SOCIAL MEMORY IN A DIARY DISCOURSE

Function of social memory in a diary discourse is identified in the article for the first time. A diary text as a reflection of its author's consciousness is considered. The value of the diary discourse is emphasized. The diary discourse is formed in the communicative and linguistic sphere and is reproduced only by the way of iconic and symbolic characters which are in interaction of communication producer and communication recipient. It is determined that social memory in this type of discourse forms an integral system of ideas about the past, gives an objective evaluation of the spiritual atmosphere of the epoch, which covers the lives of a whole generation of people. The social memory is able to expand or, vice versa, to narrow its scope due to the peculiarities of communications appearing among the participants of the diary communication. It is determined that participants of the diary communication have both historical memory - the memory about specific historical events and facts - and social memory which keeps much wider range of phenomena of social nature: peculiarities of the way of life, traditions and customs of people, quality of life, mood and mental state of people, portrait characteristic of cities, villages, different lossow and topoi, the status of social institutions, the temper of people and spiritual culture as a whole, too. It is proved that social memory is the core of formation of language, culture, spirituality of nation and its national consciousness. Since social memory is a spiritual and practical phenomenon, diary discourse - as an inexhaustible source of historical facts, events and phenomena - plays an important role in its safety. It is exactly diary discourse that presents, to new generations, information about the history of nation, its traditions and customs, past accomplishments of ancestors and the dynamics of social life from the narrator's perspective.