Chapter 7. A cognitive pragmatics of the phatic Internet
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Francisco Yus
Abstract
Phatic interpretations are typically defined as those arising from an intention to create and maintain ties and social bonds, rather than an intention to transfer substantive information. As such, they are not typical instances of communication in which the eventual relevance centers upon the value of explicitly communicated content. Nowadays we are witnessing the so-called phatic Internet, in which the propositional content transferred to other users is increasingly irrelevant but the effects that this content generates (in terms of emotions and feelings of connection, sociability, group membership, friends’ acknowledgment and mutual awareness, etc.) are utterly relevant. This chapter will argue that it is mainly the feelings and emotions that are generated from phatic interactions (as well as phatic implicatures) that demand an extension of the scope of analysis and new terminology. Specifically, the term phatic effects will be proposed and applied to Internet-mediated communication. These effects are devoid of the qualities of intentionality and propositionality but are nevertheless essential to understanding why many users spend hours exchanging (apparently) irrelevant content with one another through the Net.
Abstract
Phatic interpretations are typically defined as those arising from an intention to create and maintain ties and social bonds, rather than an intention to transfer substantive information. As such, they are not typical instances of communication in which the eventual relevance centers upon the value of explicitly communicated content. Nowadays we are witnessing the so-called phatic Internet, in which the propositional content transferred to other users is increasingly irrelevant but the effects that this content generates (in terms of emotions and feelings of connection, sociability, group membership, friends’ acknowledgment and mutual awareness, etc.) are utterly relevant. This chapter will argue that it is mainly the feelings and emotions that are generated from phatic interactions (as well as phatic implicatures) that demand an extension of the scope of analysis and new terminology. Specifically, the term phatic effects will be proposed and applied to Internet-mediated communication. These effects are devoid of the qualities of intentionality and propositionality but are nevertheless essential to understanding why many users spend hours exchanging (apparently) irrelevant content with one another through the Net.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements xi
-
Introduction
- Chapter 1. Emotion processes in discourse 3
-
Section I. Emotion, syntax and the lexicon
- Chapter 2. The multifunctionality of swear/taboo words in television series 29
- Chapter 3. The syntax of an emotional expletive in English 55
- Chapter 4. Interjections and emotions 87
- Chapter 5. Expressing emotions without emotional lexis 113
- Chapter 6. The value of left and right 139
-
Section II. Pragmatics and emotion
- Chapter 7. A cognitive pragmatics of the phatic Internet 161
- Chapter 8. Humor and mirth 189
- Chapter 9. My anger was justified surely? 213
-
Section III. Interdisciplinary studies
- Chapter 10. Emotion and language ‘at work’ 247
- Chapter 11. The effects of linguistic proficiency, Trait Emotional Intelligence and in-group advantage on emotion recognition by British and American English L1 users 279
- Chapter 12. Rethinking Martin & White’s affect taxonomy 301
-
Section IV. Emotion in different discourse types
- Chapter 13. Victims, heroes and villains in newsbites 335
- Chapter 14. Promoemotional science? 357
- Name index 387
- Subject index 395
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements xi
-
Introduction
- Chapter 1. Emotion processes in discourse 3
-
Section I. Emotion, syntax and the lexicon
- Chapter 2. The multifunctionality of swear/taboo words in television series 29
- Chapter 3. The syntax of an emotional expletive in English 55
- Chapter 4. Interjections and emotions 87
- Chapter 5. Expressing emotions without emotional lexis 113
- Chapter 6. The value of left and right 139
-
Section II. Pragmatics and emotion
- Chapter 7. A cognitive pragmatics of the phatic Internet 161
- Chapter 8. Humor and mirth 189
- Chapter 9. My anger was justified surely? 213
-
Section III. Interdisciplinary studies
- Chapter 10. Emotion and language ‘at work’ 247
- Chapter 11. The effects of linguistic proficiency, Trait Emotional Intelligence and in-group advantage on emotion recognition by British and American English L1 users 279
- Chapter 12. Rethinking Martin & White’s affect taxonomy 301
-
Section IV. Emotion in different discourse types
- Chapter 13. Victims, heroes and villains in newsbites 335
- Chapter 14. Promoemotional science? 357
- Name index 387
- Subject index 395