Synopsis
The present book is a study in the field of linguistic pragmatics, by using conversation analysis and microsociolinguistics as an extension of speech act theory, as well as in the field of applied linguistics by offering an analysis of a genuine Romanian conversational corpus. The study is first of all important for its theme - that of conversational narratives, since it is the first comprehensive research of this issue in Romanian research. Chapter 1 deals with the theoretical framework of the research which is based on the integration of two theoretical perspectives, conversation analysis and narrative analysis. Narrative analysis offers the instruments necessary for the micro analysis of narratives as fragments per se, whereas conversation analysis offers the basis for the integration of narratives in the context of conversational interaction. Chapter 2 views conversational narratives as texts having certain linguistic features and content traits. Chapters 3 and 4 focus on the narrative as process. Chapter 3 investigates the content of the story proper, analysing its communicative functions, in other words it analyzes the functions of narratives as message. Chapter 4 examines the interaction between narrative and conversation from the perspective of the interactional role of cooperation between the two discourse genres, the perspective adopted being again that of conversation analysis. Chapter 3, The functions of conversational narratives, is the most extended of all chapters and considers conversational narrative as a complex multifunctional message. It is the author’s merit to have completed and systemized the discussion on the functions of conversational narrative starting from complete theories on the functions of language. In the present case, the author opts for Halliday, discriminating mainly between the ideational, interpersonal and textual functions. These three functions are detailed by using the theory of the communicative code on the functions of language proposed by Jakobson. The two theories (Halliday’s and Jakobson’s) are convergent, both viewing language from the perspective of communication. The advantage of this combination is obvious in the discussion on the interpersonal function, which can be detailed in an emotive (expressive, according to Buehler) function (which constructs the speaker), a persuasive function, which focuses on the interlocutor, a phatic function, which maintains the channel of communication and expresses the concern for the mutual saving of the interlocutors’ faces. The right assumption adopted by the author is that in each and every case there is a dominant function, which relates to the purpose of communication, that is to the very illocutionary or perlocutionary dimension of the story, whereas the other functions are present but subordinate (it is the case of the referential and textual functions) or simply absent (the poetic function). The chapter offers a coherent and integrative perspective on the complexity of the functions of conversation analysis, on the complexity of the literature in the field. The analysis is entirely original, the only stories discussed being the ones taken from the corpus collected by the author. From a methodological point of view, the chapter makes extensive use of the Speech Act Theory and the Politeness Theory, with many sociolinguistic elements. The linguistic sections provide the interested readers with lists of formulas, cliches, etc., the present study enriching the picture of Romanian oral discourse. This book is very nicely and correctly written; it is a pleasant read. Professor Dr. Alexandra Cornilescu University of Bucharest
About the Author
Loredana Iordache is a teacher of English in Bucharest. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Bucharest. Her main research interests are conversational narratives and conversational humour. Her publications include 'Time in Conversational Narratives' in the volume 'Regards croises sur le Temps' (Editura Universitatii din Bucuresti, 2010).
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