Evaluative Language in Sports: Crowds, Coaches and Commentators

Walsh, Caldwell and Jureidini offer an expansive linguistic perspective on the evaluative language prevalent in the world of professional sports.

This book presents a close linguistic analysis of evaluative language in sport. Drawing on appraisal theory and data from three distinct sporting contexts – songs and chants in football stadiums, television commentary and coach discourse – it examines the critical role played by affectual, judgemental and appreciative language. In the spirit of sociolinguistics, this book also considers the history and culture of the respective sporting contexts. Connections are made between the evaluative language expressed by supporters, commentators and coaches and the invocation of power and solidarity. Evaluative Language in Sports gives insight into some of the key language practices that contribute to professional sports culture: a communal and combative world of winners and losers, ‘us and ‘them’.

An innovative and valuable book that will appeal to students, researchers and sports enthusiasts interested in sports communication and language, sociolinguistics and media studies.

John Walsh was a senior lecturer in the Department of Linguistics, University of Adelaide, Australia. He taught courses in SFL to undergraduate and postgraduate students. He supervised several students undertaking higher degree research within the tradition of SFL. He had a wide range of interests spanning sport, education and health. These different domains are united by the application of SFL to address a range of research questions related to the ways in which language is used in the exercise and achievement of personal and professional lives.

David Caldwell is a senior lecturer in English Language and Literacy, in Education Futures, University of South Australia, Australia. His research applies functional linguistics to a range of contemporary language contexts, with a focus on the role language plays in learning, identity and inclusion. David is the co-series editor for the Bloomsbury series: Studies in Systemic Functional Linguistics and a co-convener of the AILA Research Network: Applied Linguistics in Sport.

Jon Jureidini is a professor in the School of Medicine and Research Leader for the Critical and Ethical Mental Health Research Group at the University of Adelaide, Australia.