Chapter 6. Argumentative style in international adoption dossiers
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Emanuele Brambilla
Abstract
Drawing on recent developments in Pragma-dialectics, this paper explores argumentation in a corpus of international adoption dossiers (IADs) issued by an Italian adoption agency facilitating adoptions from India. A collection of all the documents required by the native country of the adopted child, the IAD has an argumentative nature, as it aims at persuading Indian authorities to approve adoption. The study reveals that it is characterised by a coordinative argumentation structure and a hybrid argumentative style. This “combination” of detached and engaged styles is prototypical of the communicative activity type at issue, as it is functional to radiating objectivity and commitment alike, with a view to enhancing the acceptability of the standpoint concerning the eligibility of Italian prospective adoptive parents.
Abstract
Drawing on recent developments in Pragma-dialectics, this paper explores argumentation in a corpus of international adoption dossiers (IADs) issued by an Italian adoption agency facilitating adoptions from India. A collection of all the documents required by the native country of the adopted child, the IAD has an argumentative nature, as it aims at persuading Indian authorities to approve adoption. The study reveals that it is characterised by a coordinative argumentation structure and a hybrid argumentative style. This “combination” of detached and engaged styles is prototypical of the communicative activity type at issue, as it is functional to radiating objectivity and commitment alike, with a view to enhancing the acceptability of the standpoint concerning the eligibility of Italian prospective adoptive parents.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of figures vii
- List of tables ix
- Introduction. Genres and persuasion 1
- Chapter 1. Plural conversations about argumentation 24
- Chapter 2. Establishing starting points in Editorials 46
- Chapter 3. Arguments and framing strategies in Italian public discourse about measures to contrast the Covid-19 pandemic 71
- Chapter 4. Press releases of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers 92
- Chapter 5. Legitimation in contested industries 111
- Chapter 6. Argumentative style in international adoption dossiers 134
- Chapter 7. Persuasion and critical-theoretical thought 153
- Chapter 8. Argumentation and the “interaction of minds” in text 169
- Chapter 9. Argumentation in scientific discourse 189
- Chapter 10. Teaching to manage implicit linguistic meanings 211
- Chapter 11. Bentham on rhetoric 232
- Chapter 12. Engaging conspiracy theories 248
- Index 265
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of figures vii
- List of tables ix
- Introduction. Genres and persuasion 1
- Chapter 1. Plural conversations about argumentation 24
- Chapter 2. Establishing starting points in Editorials 46
- Chapter 3. Arguments and framing strategies in Italian public discourse about measures to contrast the Covid-19 pandemic 71
- Chapter 4. Press releases of COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers 92
- Chapter 5. Legitimation in contested industries 111
- Chapter 6. Argumentative style in international adoption dossiers 134
- Chapter 7. Persuasion and critical-theoretical thought 153
- Chapter 8. Argumentation and the “interaction of minds” in text 169
- Chapter 9. Argumentation in scientific discourse 189
- Chapter 10. Teaching to manage implicit linguistic meanings 211
- Chapter 11. Bentham on rhetoric 232
- Chapter 12. Engaging conspiracy theories 248
- Index 265
