The problem of poetic language in lyrics

The exploration of poetic language in lyrics presents a unique challenge, as it often transcends the boundaries of ordinary language. Poetic expressions, particularly in song lyrics, are not merely a different use of language but represent a complex interplay of meaning, emotion, and aesthetic form. This article delves into the intricacies of poetic language in lyrics, drawing on various scholarly perspectives to illuminate the challenges and nuances involved. A qualitative, interpretive analysis was employed, reviewing theoretical frameworks from Russian and European linguistics (e.g., Vinogradov, Potebnia, formalist theses) and applying them to a close reading of Yusupov’s texts to identify poetic devices and their artistic effects. The analysis revealed that Yusupov’s lyrical texts employ a wide range of poetic tools metaphors, similes, epithets, and semantic shifts (metaphorization) to construct vivid internal images, thereby enhancing readability and emotional impact. Poetic language is an artistic subsystem of language that shapes the aesthetic world of lyric poetry; its study bridges literary criticism, linguistics, stylistics, and cultural studies, and is essential for understanding the emotional power of lyrical works.