Chapter 7. Direct speech, subjectivity and speaker positioning in London English and Paris French
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Maria Secova
Abstract
This paper examines functional similarities and differences in the use of pragmatic features – in particular quotatives and general extenders – on the right and left periphery of direct quotations. This comparative study, based on the analysis of a contemporary corpus of London English and Paris French (MLE – MPF),1 finds that the form and frequency of these particles tend to vary not only with respect to social factors such as speakers’ age and gender, but also with respect to the different pragmatic functions they come to perform in different interactional settings. The contemporary data is analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively to show how different variants position the speaker in relation to: (i) the content of the quote, (ii) the interlocutors, (iii) the presumed author of the quote. The paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of pragmatic universals and variability in the use of direct speech.
Abstract
This paper examines functional similarities and differences in the use of pragmatic features – in particular quotatives and general extenders – on the right and left periphery of direct quotations. This comparative study, based on the analysis of a contemporary corpus of London English and Paris French (MLE – MPF),1 finds that the form and frequency of these particles tend to vary not only with respect to social factors such as speakers’ age and gender, but also with respect to the different pragmatic functions they come to perform in different interactional settings. The contemporary data is analysed both qualitatively and quantitatively to show how different variants position the speaker in relation to: (i) the content of the quote, (ii) the interlocutors, (iii) the presumed author of the quote. The paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of pragmatic universals and variability in the use of direct speech.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. Positioning through address practice in Finland-Swedish and Sweden-Swedish service encounters 19
- Chapter 3. Sociocultural and linguistic constraints in address choice from Latin to Italian 51
- Chapter 4. Closeness at a distance 81
- Chapter 5. Beyond the notion of periphery 105
- Chapter 6. Metacommenting in English and French 127
- Chapter 7. Direct speech, subjectivity and speaker positioning in London English and Paris French 155
- Chapter 8. Positioning of self in interaction 177
- Chapter 9. Constellation of indexicalities and social meaning 197
- Chapter 10. “Proper is whatever people make it” 219
- Chapter 11. Representations of self and other in narratives of return migration 241
- Chapter 12. Orthography as an identity marker 263
- Chapter 13. Positioning the self in talk about groups 285
- Author index 307
- Subject index 313
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. Positioning through address practice in Finland-Swedish and Sweden-Swedish service encounters 19
- Chapter 3. Sociocultural and linguistic constraints in address choice from Latin to Italian 51
- Chapter 4. Closeness at a distance 81
- Chapter 5. Beyond the notion of periphery 105
- Chapter 6. Metacommenting in English and French 127
- Chapter 7. Direct speech, subjectivity and speaker positioning in London English and Paris French 155
- Chapter 8. Positioning of self in interaction 177
- Chapter 9. Constellation of indexicalities and social meaning 197
- Chapter 10. “Proper is whatever people make it” 219
- Chapter 11. Representations of self and other in narratives of return migration 241
- Chapter 12. Orthography as an identity marker 263
- Chapter 13. Positioning the self in talk about groups 285
- Author index 307
- Subject index 313
