The Persuasive Function of Participles, in the Advertisement Language (as Instanced by the Catalogue of a Cosmetic Company)

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the lexical functioning in the advertisement language. The authors analyse 180 various participles as elements of 600 different collocations from the catalogue of “Avon” cosmetic company. They found them to be stimulants of consumptive activity, elements that played an essential role in persuasive information. The use of participles brings to mind some preferred traits that compose a stereotype of the modern person, such as: young age, vitality, and health, sensual attractiveness, originality, and professionalism. The participles varied with a view to their frequency and combination, and they defined cosmetics, their components, properties, and any kind of care.