Offering a wide-ranging introduction to English language and linguistics, this text covers both traditional topics - such as phonology, grammar and semantics - and topics that have come to prominence, such as language and power, politeness and language and politics
Focusing on speech-related genres in Early Modern English, this book offers insights into the nature of spoken interaction during that era. It delves into historical communication practices, helping readers understand how language was used in conversation and the social dynamics at play. Through its analysis, the book sheds light on the evolution of spoken discourse and its significance in shaping communication in earlier times.
A fascinating account of how impolite behaviour works.
How do we interpret language and expose its meanings? How does pragmatics describe the English language? Where can we go to acquire a deeper understanding of pragmatics?Pragmatics and the English Language is a bold new textbook that presents an innovative and exciting way of looking at the subject. This new perspective, called integrative pragmatics, steers a course between what have historically been considered irreconcilable perspectives. With an emphasis on empirical data, the book is filled with examples from cartoons, films and historical sources, as well as face-to-face and digitally-mediated interactions, all of which are used to help the reader develop a better understanding of the theory.Pragmatics and the English Language :- Focuses on both the pragmatic aspects of English and how pragmatics is shaped by English- Synthesizes traditional ideas with state-of-the-art pragmatics research- Goes far beyond the coverage found in other pragmatics textbooksShedding light on the English language in highly original ways, Pragmatics and the English Language is essential reading for advanced students of the English language and linguistics, along with anybody else who wishes to develop a more in-depth knowledge of pragmatics.
'Routledge Language Workbooks' are practical introductions to specific areas of languages for absolute beginners. They provide comprehensive coverage of the areas as well as a basis for further study.
Focusing on the advancement of L2 pragmatics, this book outlines innovative methods and contemporary techniques applicable to second language contexts. The authors emphasize the necessity for research in L2 pragmatics to broaden its scope, integrating diverse approaches such as Conversation Analysis and Corpus Linguistics to enhance understanding and application in the field.
Exploring the dynamics of impolite behavior, this book delves into the psychology behind rudeness and its impact on social interactions. It examines various contexts where impoliteness manifests, offering insights into why people behave inappropriately and how such actions affect relationships. Through engaging anecdotes and research, it reveals the underlying mechanisms driving impolite conduct and suggests ways to navigate these complex social landscapes.
Focusing on the interplay between language and characterization in dialogue, this study explores how readers construct images of characters across various genres, including Shakespearean plays, prose fiction, and film. It integrates theories from linguistics, social cognition, and literary stylistics, offering practical analytical frameworks. By examining diverse examples, the book reveals the cognitive and linguistic aspects of character portrayal, making it a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of character construction in literature and beyond.
This edited collection investigates historical linguistic politeness and impoliteness. Although some research has been undertaken uniting politeness and historical pragmatics, it has been sporadic at best, and often limited to traditional theoretical approaches. This is a strange state of affairs, because politeness plays a central role in the social dynamics of language. This collection, containing contributions from renowned experts, aims to fill this hiatus, bringing together cutting-edge research. Not only does it illuminate the language usage of earlier periods, but by examining the past it places politeness today in context. Such a diachronic perspective also affords a further test-bed for current models of politeness. This volume provides insights into historical aspects of language, particularly items regularly deployed for politeness functions, and the social, particularly interpersonal, contexts with which it interacts. It also sheds light on how (social) meanings are dynamically constructed in situ, and probes various theoretical aspects of politeness. Its papers deploy a range of multilingual (e. g. English, Spanish, Italian and Chinese) diachronic data drawn from different genres such as letters, dramas, witch trials and manners books.