SILENCE AS A COMMUNICATIVE PHENOMENON IN DISCOURSE

Abstract

This paper explores silence as a communicative and nonverbal phenomenon within discourse. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches from linguistics, pragmatics, and communication studies, the research analyzes the structural, functional, and semantic properties of silence. The study argues that silence is not merely the absence of speech but a meaningful communicative act that conveys intentions, emotions, and social relations. The findings demonstrate that silence performs multiple functions, including emotive, strategic, and evaluative roles, and its interpretation depends heavily on context and shared knowledge. The paper contributes to expanding the theoretical understanding of nonverbal communication and highlights the importance of silence in discourse analysis