Genre matters
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Stefan Hauser
Abstract
Contrastive media analysis is a vast field of academic research that – metaphorically speaking – comes in many shapes and sizes and therefore is confronted by manifold theoretical and methodological challenges. This contribution focuses on two interrelated aspects: a) the problem of equivalence as a prerequisite of comparison and b) the comparative constellation and its effects on the interpretation of cultural variance. It is important to mention that the discussion in this paper is set against the backdrop of a genre-based approach. Starting from the – initially rather unspectacular – observation that “we find intercultural variations in generic realizations” (Bhatia 2002: 11), this paper aims at highlighting certain basic theoretical and methodological issues that, in my view, are still often underestimated or overseen in contrastive media analyses. I will illustrate my considerations by presenting a comparison of a newspaper genre, the interview, in different cultural contexts.
Abstract
Contrastive media analysis is a vast field of academic research that – metaphorically speaking – comes in many shapes and sizes and therefore is confronted by manifold theoretical and methodological challenges. This contribution focuses on two interrelated aspects: a) the problem of equivalence as a prerequisite of comparison and b) the comparative constellation and its effects on the interpretation of cultural variance. It is important to mention that the discussion in this paper is set against the backdrop of a genre-based approach. Starting from the – initially rather unspectacular – observation that “we find intercultural variations in generic realizations” (Bhatia 2002: 11), this paper aims at highlighting certain basic theoretical and methodological issues that, in my view, are still often underestimated or overseen in contrastive media analyses. I will illustrate my considerations by presenting a comparison of a newspaper genre, the interview, in different cultural contexts.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Approaching contrastive media analysis 1
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Section 1. One language – one culture?
- Crosscultural perspectives on advice 11
- Global and local representations of Cambodia 47
- Contrastive news discourse analysis from a pragmatic perspective 67
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Section 2. Culture in communication – culture as communication?
- Film subtitles and the conundrum of linguistic and cultural representation 101
- Linguistic, intercultural and semiotic contrasts of obituaries 123
- Language and culture in minor media text types 145
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Section 3. Does nation matter?
- Italianicity goes global 179
- What defines news culture? 201
- Genre matters 219
- Index 245
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Approaching contrastive media analysis 1
-
Section 1. One language – one culture?
- Crosscultural perspectives on advice 11
- Global and local representations of Cambodia 47
- Contrastive news discourse analysis from a pragmatic perspective 67
-
Section 2. Culture in communication – culture as communication?
- Film subtitles and the conundrum of linguistic and cultural representation 101
- Linguistic, intercultural and semiotic contrasts of obituaries 123
- Language and culture in minor media text types 145
-
Section 3. Does nation matter?
- Italianicity goes global 179
- What defines news culture? 201
- Genre matters 219
- Index 245
