Two dimensions of language intensity in evaluative discourse
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Christine Liebrecht
Abstract
Language intensity has been investigated within several disciplines, such as linguistics, stylistics and social psychology, and from several approaches. As a result, a wide range of intensifying elements and effects have been identified. In this chapter, we demonstrate on the basis of a qualitative corpus-analytical study that two dimensions play a decisive role in the discrimination of intensified language: contextuality and semantic richness. Contextuality reflects the degree to which the intensifying meaning of an element depends on its context. Semantic richness describes the amount of meaningful information that an intensifying element contains on top of its intensification function. This chapter is a starting point for further research concerning the characteristics of language intensity. Our insights contribute to established approaches in corpus-analytical and stylistic research.
Abstract
Language intensity has been investigated within several disciplines, such as linguistics, stylistics and social psychology, and from several approaches. As a result, a wide range of intensifying elements and effects have been identified. In this chapter, we demonstrate on the basis of a qualitative corpus-analytical study that two dimensions play a decisive role in the discrimination of intensified language: contextuality and semantic richness. Contextuality reflects the degree to which the intensifying meaning of an element depends on its context. Semantic richness describes the amount of meaningful information that an intensifying element contains on top of its intensification function. This chapter is a starting point for further research concerning the characteristics of language intensity. Our insights contribute to established approaches in corpus-analytical and stylistic research.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Section I. Discourse structure and verbal interaction
- The encoding and signalling of discourse relations in argumentative discourse 13
- A typological approach to the encoding of motion events 45
- Contrastive analysis of interactional discourse markers in English and Spanish newspaper texts 75
- “God that came out quick didn’t it eh” 109
- The use of tag questions in the oral production of L2 English learners 145
- “Okay … so … nice to meet you? {smiles}” 171
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Section II. Evaluation and engagement
- Lexis and grammar as complementary discourse systems for expressing stance and evaluation 201
- Emotion and appraisal processes in language 227
- Empathy versus engagement 251
- Two dimensions of language intensity in evaluative discourse 273
- Name index 297
- Subject Index 301
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Section I. Discourse structure and verbal interaction
- The encoding and signalling of discourse relations in argumentative discourse 13
- A typological approach to the encoding of motion events 45
- Contrastive analysis of interactional discourse markers in English and Spanish newspaper texts 75
- “God that came out quick didn’t it eh” 109
- The use of tag questions in the oral production of L2 English learners 145
- “Okay … so … nice to meet you? {smiles}” 171
-
Section II. Evaluation and engagement
- Lexis and grammar as complementary discourse systems for expressing stance and evaluation 201
- Emotion and appraisal processes in language 227
- Empathy versus engagement 251
- Two dimensions of language intensity in evaluative discourse 273
- Name index 297
- Subject Index 301
