How pragmatically (in)definite are you and one ?
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Sandrine Sorlin
Abstract
This chapter focuses on two specific pronominal ‘imposters’, you and one as used in Orwell’s semi-autobiographical text Down and Out in Paris and London (1933). It studies the ‘definite-indefinite’ and ‘specific-generic’ potential of the pronouns via the same theoretical framework put forward in Sorlin (2022) with regard to the second-person pronoun, the better to appreciate the similarities and differences between the two pronouns. The aim of this chapter is to investigate the way the two pronouns foreground (and background) their egocentric and altruistic orientation and to what pragmatic purposes. The pronominal comparison within the same corpus allows to perceive why one tends to be used in lieu of you (and vice versa) in strategic places of the essay.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on two specific pronominal ‘imposters’, you and one as used in Orwell’s semi-autobiographical text Down and Out in Paris and London (1933). It studies the ‘definite-indefinite’ and ‘specific-generic’ potential of the pronouns via the same theoretical framework put forward in Sorlin (2022) with regard to the second-person pronoun, the better to appreciate the similarities and differences between the two pronouns. The aim of this chapter is to investigate the way the two pronouns foreground (and background) their egocentric and altruistic orientation and to what pragmatic purposes. The pronominal comparison within the same corpus allows to perceive why one tends to be used in lieu of you (and vice versa) in strategic places of the essay.
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Structures in discourse 1
- Evaluation as a persuasive tactic in the 2012 Obama-Romney debates 18
- How pragmatically (in)definite are you and one ? 36
- Amazing – The use of English in texting between a Finland-Swedish high school girl and friends 58
- The uses of laughter in epideictic radio interviews 83
- Temporality in reaction GIFs as multimodal virtual performatives 103
- Emoji and illocutionarity 124
- Revisiting adaptability 156
- Vernacular voices in the public sphere 176
- Contributor bios 202
- Index 205
Chapters in this book
- 日本言語政策学会 / Japan Association for Language Policy. 言語政策 / Language Policy 10. 2014 i
- Dedication v
- Table of contents vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- Structures in discourse 1
- Evaluation as a persuasive tactic in the 2012 Obama-Romney debates 18
- How pragmatically (in)definite are you and one ? 36
- Amazing – The use of English in texting between a Finland-Swedish high school girl and friends 58
- The uses of laughter in epideictic radio interviews 83
- Temporality in reaction GIFs as multimodal virtual performatives 103
- Emoji and illocutionarity 124
- Revisiting adaptability 156
- Vernacular voices in the public sphere 176
- Contributor bios 202
- Index 205
