This document discusses discourse analysis and the transactional and interactional functions of language. It explores how language is used to convey information versus establish social relationships. Key differences between spoken and written language are outlined, such as the less structured syntax of spoken language. Features of monologue and dialogue as well as common text genres and their components are also summarized.
This document discusses discourse analysis and the transactional and interactional functions of language. It explores how language is used to convey information versus establish social relationships. Key differences between spoken and written language are outlined, such as the less structured syntax of spoken language. Features of monologue and dialogue as well as common text genres and their components are also summarized.
This document discusses discourse analysis and the transactional and interactional functions of language. It explores how language is used to convey information versus establish social relationships. Key differences between spoken and written language are outlined, such as the less structured syntax of spoken language. Features of monologue and dialogue as well as common text genres and their components are also summarized.
Discourse analysis - the analysis of language in use.
Discourse analysis – the investigation of what language is used for. Transactional and interactional functions of language Transactional function – the function which language serves in the expression of 'content' . Interactional function- involved in expressing social relations and personal attitudes. (Brown and Yule 1983:1) The most important function of language is the communication of information. Primarily transactional language – the language which is used to convey 'factual or propositional information‘. In primarily transactional language we assume that what the speaker (or writer) has primarily in mind is the efficient transference of information. Language used in such a situation is primarily 'message-oriented '. (Brown and Yule 1983:2) The use of language to establish and maintain social relationships It is clearly the case that a great deal of everyday human interaction is characterised by the primarily interpersonal rather than the primarily transactional use of language. Exemplification: ‘My goodness, it's cold’! (Brown and Yule 1983:3) Spoken and written language Manner of production (Brown and Yule: 1983) Medium – “the overall distinction between linguistic messages transmitted to their receivers via phonic or graphic means, that is by sound or by writing” (McCarthy and Carter 1994: 4). Written/spoken texts/complex medium Mode – “the choices that the sender makes as to whether features normally associated with speech or writing shall be included in the message, regardless of the medium in which it is to be transmitted” (McCarthy and Carter 1994: 4). the syntax of spoken language is typically much less structured than that of written language i. spoken language contains many incomplete sentences, often simply sequences of phrases ii. spoken language typically contains rather little subordination iii. in conversational speech, where sentential syntax can be observed, active declarative forms are normally found. (Brown and Yule 1983: 15) An extensive set of metalingual markers exists to mark relationships between clauses (that complementisers, when/while temporal markers, so-called 'logical connectors' like besides, moreover, however, in spite of, etc.) (written language) In spoken language the largely paratactically organised chunks are related by and, but, then and, more rarely, if. The speaker is typically less explicit than the writer: I'm so tired (because) I had to walk all the way home. (spoken language) In written language rhetorical organisers of larger stretches of discourse appear, like firstly, more important than and in conclusion. These are rare in spoken language. (Brown and Yule 1983: 16) Heavily premodified noun phrases (written language) Sentences are generally structured in subject-predicate form (written language) Topic-comment structure (spoken language): the cats + did you let them out The occurrence of passive constructions is relatively infrequent in informal speech. Instead, active constructions with indeterminate group agents are noticeable, as in: Oh everything they do in Edinburgh + they do it far too slowly (Brown and Yule 1983: 17) The speaker may rely on (e.g.) gaze direction to supply a referent: (looking at the rain) frightful isn't it. The speaker may replace or refine expressions as he goes along: this man + this chap she was going out with . The speaker typically uses a good deal of rather generalised vocabulary: a lot of, got, do, thing, nice, stuff, place and things like that. (Brown and Yule 1983: 17) The speaker frequently repeats the same syntactic form several times over, as this fairground inspector does: / look at fire extinguishers : I look at fire exits + I look at what gangways are available + I look at electric cables what + are they properly earthed + are they properly covered . The speaker may produce a large number of prefabricated 'fillers': well, erm, I think, you know, if you see what I mean, of course, and so on. (Brown and Yule 1983: 17) Monologue and dialogue Text typologies Field – What is happening? What is the text about? Tenor – Who are taking part? Mode – What is the language itself doing? Registers Genres (Hallidy: 1989; McCarty and Carter 1994: 21; 24-34) Narrative genre Abstract – What is the going to be about? Orientation – Who are the participants? When and where did the action take place? In which circumstances? Complicating action – Then what happened? What problems occurred? Evaluation – What is the point of the story? Resolution – How did events sort themselves out? What finally happened? Coda – What is the bridge between the events in the story and the present situation of the narration? (Labov: 1972 in McCarty and Carter 1994:33) Brown G, Yule G 1983 Discourse analysis. Cambridge University Press. McCarthy M, Carter R 1994 Language as Discourse. Longman Group UK Limited.