The social space of an eighteenth-century governess
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Arja Nurmi
Abstract
Social space can be expressed by e.g. the use of modality and person reference. We discuss how variation in power and distance affects the ways an eighteenth-century governess, Agnes Porter, is constrained by her professional role, and by what linguistic means she negotiates shifts between different private and public roles. The results show that Porter’s constant efforts of self-effacement are reflected in her habit of referring more to people other than herself, as well as in her use of epistemic must and avoidance of first-person forms. Porter’s social space appears feminine, and her constrained self-expression shows not only in the use of positive adjectives but also in the overall topic of her letters and journal entries.
Abstract
Social space can be expressed by e.g. the use of modality and person reference. We discuss how variation in power and distance affects the ways an eighteenth-century governess, Agnes Porter, is constrained by her professional role, and by what linguistic means she negotiates shifts between different private and public roles. The results show that Porter’s constant efforts of self-effacement are reflected in her habit of referring more to people other than herself, as well as in her use of epistemic must and avoidance of first-person forms. Porter’s social space appears feminine, and her constrained self-expression shows not only in the use of positive adjectives but also in the overall topic of her letters and journal entries.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Language practices in the construction of social roles in Late Modern English 1
- Mr Spectator, identity and social roles in an early eighteenth-century community of practice and the periodical discourse community 29
- How eighteenth-century book reviewers became language guardians 55
- “if You think me obstinate I can’t help it” 87
- Reporting and social role construction in eighteenth-century personal correspondence 111
- Preacher, scholar, brother, friend 135
- The social space of an eighteenth-century governess 163
- Building trust through (self-)appraisal in nineteenth-century business correspondence 191
- Good-natured fellows and poor mothers 211
- Name index 229
- Subject index 235
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Language practices in the construction of social roles in Late Modern English 1
- Mr Spectator, identity and social roles in an early eighteenth-century community of practice and the periodical discourse community 29
- How eighteenth-century book reviewers became language guardians 55
- “if You think me obstinate I can’t help it” 87
- Reporting and social role construction in eighteenth-century personal correspondence 111
- Preacher, scholar, brother, friend 135
- The social space of an eighteenth-century governess 163
- Building trust through (self-)appraisal in nineteenth-century business correspondence 191
- Good-natured fellows and poor mothers 211
- Name index 229
- Subject index 235
