Media
The Media subcollection relates to a field of study which examines linguistically mediated conflict as its represented in culture. You can expect to find a variety of genres under investigation including a greater supporting body of authentic cultural depictions of conflict primarily through the medium of Reality TV. You can also find a variety of methods for media analysis that you may find helpful when engaging with conflict conductive media.
Doing gender in conflict talk: an analysis of gendered discourses in a U.S. reality TV show
This paper presents an analysis of gendered discourses in conflict talk by drawing upon interactional data from the U.S. reality TV show The Apprentice. It explores the ways in which women professionals enact their gender identities while engaging actively in conflict talk which is stereotypically coded as ‘masculine’. Specifically, I shall look at the different ways in which they construct their gendered identities by aligning themselves with different gendered discourses. It is found that these woman professionals are shown to draw upon different gendered discourses in constructing their feminine gender identities, namely the dominant discourses of femininity and resistant discourses. The paper also shows that the enactment of gendered identities in conflict talk may vary from one context to another.
Yet again we see an analysis of The Apprentice but this time with gender dynamic markers under investigation. The Apprentice provides a unique insight into the trajectory of American history as it famously houses the 45th and 48th President of the United States, Donald Trump. Also markedly in Trump’s history is his pervasive misogyny and Rape allegations, this article provides tangible and salient discourse markers for us to assess the time and place gendered dynamics that may have informed pervasive misogynistic culture in the United States.
Chit Cheung Matthew Sung, & Sung, C. C. M. (2013). Doing gender in conflict talk: An analysis of gendered discourses in a U.S. reality TV show. The Journal of English Studies, 11(11), 213–232. https://doi.org/10.18172/jes.2625
Im/politeness, gender and power distance in Lady Windermere’s Fan
Im/politeness has attracted considerable attention over the past decades (starting with Lakoff 1973; Brown and Levinson 1978; Leech 1983) and has kept expanding rapidly with the discursive turn (Eelen 2001; Mills 2003; Watts 2003; Bousfield 2008; Locher 2008). There is a growing interest in examining im/politeness from a number of perspectives, e.g. society, gender, cross-cultural etc., and multiple definitions have been proposed, however, impoliteness as such has not had a distinct theoretical framework yet. This study investigates impoliteness through drama translation data. It focuses on manipulation of im/politeness in target versions of a playtext, in terms of gender, and examines how humour may be facilitated through such shifts. The aim is to confirm that impoliteness does interact with gender (Mills 2003), and that humour creation draws on reversed gender stereotypes. It also shows that power (ensuing from reversed gender stereotypes) interacts with impoliteness strategies, to manifest humour in the target versions. The study uses Bousfield’s (2008) model to account for im/politeness shifts, between the two versions. Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan (1892) is a comedy and a satire targeting the aristocratic society of the time. The two Greek translations of the play (2006 by Karhadakis and 2010 by Belies) are a most suitable context for examining how impoliteness interacts with power distance and gender to create humour, because of its humorous aspects and cross-gender talk. The paper also intends to show impoliteness scholarship that translation has a rich potential for deciphering or confirming pragmatic aspects of the phenomenon, which are elsewhere pursued through monolingual research.
Mavrigiannaki’s thorough and precise work evaluating the gendered politeness interaction of Oscar Wilde’s Windermere’s Fan provides fantastic insights at depth. If it wasn’t so eloquent its research impact might be hard to detect, but this article provides explicit impacts on how drama manifests politeness discourse through distinct pragmatic dimensions. It provides for this collection research which investigates historical linguistic material as well as new genres of media in terms of Drama.
Chrysi Mavrigiannaki, & Mavrigiannaki, C. (2020). Im/politeness, gender and power distance in Lady Windermere’s Fan. 6(1), 79–91. https://doi.org/10.1075/ttmc.00045.mav
“Let’s see how many of you mother fuckers unfollow me for this”: The pragmatic function of the hashtag #sorrynotsorry in non-apologetic Instagram posts
Social media play a key role in presentation of the self and management of social relationships. Although self-presentation online has been seen to exhibit a positivity bias, making positive forms of self-presentation more likely than negative ones, there is evidence that linguistic “behaviour” in digitally-mediated communication (DMC) often transgresses norms of appropriateness. This study adds to research on impoliteness in social media by examining the ways in which users of Instagram strategically employ hashtags and engage in face work with potentially inappropriate posts. It presents the results of a quantitative study (512 posts from a random sample) of the content of Instagram posts labelled #sorrynotsorry, as well as a qualitative analysis of politeness strategies accompanying images using the hashtag. It demonstrates how the hashtag is used as a non-apology marker in a balancing act of (im-)politeness and self-presentation strategies that allows for a level of sanctioned face attack. Overall, it suggests that posters on Instagram use #sorrynotsorry in a trans-ideological manner, allowing them to take both oppositional and complicitous stances on evolving norms of appropriateness online. The results add to an understanding of the pragmatics of hashtags in DMC and highlight the strategic nature of self-presentation on social networking sites.
As unabashed and non-apologetic as the speech act itself Matley’s work on the #sorrynotsorry Instagram discourse marker provides unique insight into underattended domains. Digital conflict discourse is a fascinating site of interaction and a rapidly developing one at that. With strong research backing as well as a salient discourse feature within a research gap, this research fits the bill for having an impact. Its use within this subcollection is to introduce strong research into the digital domain as proof of concept that pragmatic conflict transcends the analog-digital split.
David Matley, & Matley, D. (2018). “Let’s see how many of you mother fuckers unfollow me for this”: The pragmatic function of the hashtag #sorrynotsorry in non-apologetic Instagram posts. Journal of Pragmatics, 133, 66–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2018.06.003
Exploring verbal aggression in English historical texts using USAS: the possibilities, the problems and potential solutions
This article investigates the ways in which we might use the UCREL Semantic Annotation System (USAS) to explore pragmatic phenomena relating to verbal aggression within Old Bailey trial texts dating from the late eighteenth century. Specifically, I demonstrate how this automated system can be used to identify potential leads into what I have called an aggression space, by way of the words, phrases and multi-word units captured by six USAS semantic-field tags: speech acts (Q2.2), im/politeness (S1.2.4+/-), (lack of) respect (S7.2+/-) and violence/anger (E3-). As these semtags, as they are known, have been designed with modern data in mind, I also discuss the problems which arise when using the tool to explore historical courtroom proceedings, and outline some potential solutions to these problems.
Archer’s work on providing a structured analysis of verbal aggression within English historical texts is an insightful article in terms of finding and usability. The theoretical framework that they approach defining language conflict is interesting and useful for those interested. As well as its utilization of the UCREL Semantic Annotation System (USAS) it provides a useful step of automation that researchers could potentially adopt when approaching textual analysis.
Dawn Archer, Archer, D., & Archer, D. E. (2014). Exploring verbal aggression in English historical texts using USAS: the possibilities, the problems and potential solutions. 277–302. https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.243.17arc
Insults and face work in the Bible
Insults play a key role in social interaction in the agonistic culture of the Middle East. This article constructs a social scientific model of social interaction regarding face work and insults and then filters the Gospel of Matthew through that model to highlight the prevalence of insult in the biblical world .
What can we say? The Bible is one of those original dramatic works that incorporates vast depictions of conflict, heavily laden with cultural and moral connotation. Utilizing the Bible Pilch isolates features of face work and insults and provides valuable insight into historical depictions of language mediated conflict. For those interested, this is well worth the read as it provides a strong framework for translating a work of this magnitude to a pragmatic discourse scope.
John J. Pilch, & Pilch, J. J. (2014). Insults and face work in the Bible. Hts Teologiese Studies-Theological Studies, 70(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v70i1.2655
Impoliteness and power dynamics in intimate interactions: An analysis of Joe Blann’s ‘Things We Had’
Joe Blann’s (2011) comic ‘Things We had’ is a complex and nuanced multimodal realisation of a tense interaction between a couple, rendered through the subtle interplay of narration, panel composition and dialogue. The tug of war and blame game the couple engage in are rife with instances of impoliteness. Drawing on Culpeper’s (2011a, 2015b) impoliteness framework and an integrative pragmatics approach, this article examines the sophisticated multimodal realisation of impoliteness and power dynamics, with a particular focus on the subtle forms of implicational impoliteness and intricate impoliteness patterning used in the fictional interaction. In doing so, it analyses the interplay between impoliteness and power dynamics in the exchange, highlighting the importance of impoliteness analysis in revealing the fluid relational power dynamics underlying the couple’s interaction. This is accompanied by an analysis of the key affective and interactional role of impoliteness in driving the exchange between the couple. Impoliteness, along with the evaluative negative affect it involves, is shown to be instrumental in the couple’s struggle for interactional power in the course of the interaction, and also more broadly, in their negotiation of relational power within the relationship.
An underattended to dimension of conflict analysis lies in the conflict of intimate relationships and its worth exploiting the massive body of media which features such conflict. Mourad’s work analyzing Joe Blann’s ‘Things We Had’ provides us unique insight into a private realm. Providing a pragmatic analysis of not only discursive features but dynamics of power and identities as they manifest in relationships. For its purpose in this subcollection both researchers and learners alike can benefit from its linguistic findings and its research approach. Intimate and private sites have always been difficult to access language data from thus dramatizations might provide us some insight.
Lina Mourad, & Mourad, L. (2021). Impoliteness and power dynamics in intimate interactions: An analysis of Joe Blann’s ‘Things We Had.’ Language and Literature, 096394702110342. https://doi.org/10.1177/09639470211034283
The Point of Banter in the television show Pointless
This chapter explores banter within the television quiz show Pointless. Building on previous theories of banter, I suggest that the composite nature of the phenomenon can usefully be analysed within an interactional pragmatic model, such as that proposed by Lecercle (1999). Using this model to analyse various episodes of Pointless, I seek to demonstrate that banter is created within a dynamic interpersonal process. I focus on the sequential interaction between speaker and the various hearers involved in the exchange, as opposed to isolated utterances. I propose that any analysis of banter needs not only to study the linguistic aspects of a series of utterances, but also the sociocultural context and the encyclopaedic knowledge that each participant brings to the exchange.
Linda Pillière’s work evaluating Banter in the UK TV show Pointless within the interactional pragmatic model is a nifty and useful piece. As a proof of concept this article provides us an approach to TV sitcom analysis within a pragmatic framework. Alongside this Banter itself if part of the conflict management strategy for speakers of UK English varieties. An important does of English variation could provide us a wider breadth of understanding of how conflict could potentially be managed, and for those in applied sites encountering UK English.
Linda Pillière, & Pilliere, L. (2018). The Point of Banter in the television show Pointless. 141–164. https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.30.08pil
Uncivil Twitter: A sociopragmatic analysis
Using four tweets by Steven Salaita about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that resulted in the retraction of his academic job offer in September 2014 as our case study, we investigate the role of Twitter in the shaping and reception of the controversial messages. Our analysis combines Gricean pragmatics with im/politeness and hate-speech research to reveal a complex layering of potential meanings stemming from what is linguistically encoded in each tweet. Their construal as hate speech, in particular, depends on which of these potential meanings critics chose to focus upon. We account for this finding by considering the diversity of potential audiences of a tweet and suggest that the effects of context collapse on implicated meanings can be especially detrimental. Competition for attention among incoming tweets, Twitter’s central affiliative function and applicable length restrictions can, nevertheless, place a premium on communicating such meanings.
Terkourafi et al’s article on Twitter discourse manifesting in very real consequences is a captivating article on political manifestations of conflict discourses. It also provides us our first real case-study example of media analysis, tied to a particular event and across sites Uncivil Twitter provides both researchers and readers insight into the sociopragmatics related to getting ‘canceled’. It is an especially impactful read today as Isreal-Palestinian relations are at an all-time low with the extended conflict ongoing.
Marina Terkourafi, Terkourafi, M., Lydia Catedral, Catedral, L., Iftikhar Haider, Haider, I., Farzad Karimzad, Karimzad, F., Jeriel Melgares, Jeriel Melgares, Melgares, J., Cristina Mostacero-Pinilla, Cristina Mostacero-Pinilla, C. Mostacero, Cristina Mostacero-Pinilla, J. A. Nelson, Nelson, J., Benjamin Weissman, & Weissman, B. (2018). Uncivil Twitter: A sociopragmatic analysis. 6(1), 26–57. https://doi.org/10.1075/jlac.00002.ter
Impoliteness in the service of verisimilitude in film interaction
This paper addresses the issue of impoliteness in the context of the verisimilitude of film discourse. Taking as its departure point the notion of participation framework encompassing two levels of communication underlying film interaction and drawing on the recent developments in the relevant scholarship on impoliteness, the present article puts forward a number of hypotheses about how impoliteness, albeit extremely frequent and superfluous, is plausibly rendered and does not strike viewers as being inconceivable given the way it realized on the characters’ level of communication. To this end, a few pragmatic factors are discussed: impoliteness as a character trait, the speaker’s power, sanctioning impoliteness within a community of practice, and the nature of hearers’ reactions to impoliteness.
Dynel’s work on Impoliteness in Film interactions provides a unique entry into the curation and provides us a look into how research within film studies goes about discussing pragmatic discourse. Quite theoretical Impoliteness in the service of verisimilitude in film interaction poses hypothesize on impoliteness interacts with viewers. Very theoretically useful for those interested in conducting pragmatic conflict analysis on Films, not only servicing the media itself but also the site of interaction with the viewer.
Marta Dynel, & Dynel, M. (2015). Impoliteness in the service of verisimilitude in film interaction. 157–182.
“There’s definitely gonna be some serious carnage in this house” or how to be genuinely impolite in Big Brother UK
Although it is quite easy to conceive of a number of conventionalized impoliteness formulae that, depending on context, do not lead to the hearer’s evaluations of impoliteness, there are many situations when the speaker aims to be genuinely impolite and does not try to mitigate his/her verbal behavior. This paper reports the findings of an analysis of twenty-nine genuinely impolite verbal behaviors that occurred in the Big Brother UK 2012 house. The main objective of this study is to examine the triggers for genuine impoliteness and determine which aspects of the hearer’s face and rights s/he claims for him/herself are targeted in such interactions. The results reveal that impoliteness among the housemates is triggered by previous impolite (non-) verbal behavior, implied negativity or personal dislike of the target. The speaker, in his/her turn, tends to associate the target with a negative aspect or behavior, question his/her mental, emotional state or knowledge, deny the freedom of expression or participation and, finally, warn or threaten the target.
Another thorough, useful, and novel article examining Big Brother UK conflict dynamics. Well worth the reading Sinkeviciute’s work provides us analysis of distinct triggers for conflict and the related identity markers as relevant to the discourse context. Big Brother UK itself is an iconic site of conflict and well worth the investigation, this article is a wonderful proof case for useful Reality Television analysis.
Valeria Sinkeviciute, & Sinkeviciute, V. (2015). “There’s definitely gonna be some serious carnage in this house” or how to be genuinely impolite in Big Brother UK. 3(2), 317–348. https://doi.org/10.1075/jlac.3.2.04sin
This material is a curated clip from the Discovery Channel show Naked and Afraid, where contestants are in incredibly harsh conditions and very conflict-prone. This is a clear example of escalation and face-threats. See what features you think are in play for this conflict to conduct.
This is a long-form compilation ranking selected moments in the long-running show Survivor. The commentator provides insight into the game and the surrounding political context as it relates to the conflict. This is an excellent series of examples of how goals change conflict stages dynamically.
This material is related to the previously mentioned “There’s gonna be some serious carnage in this house” or how to be genuinely impolite in Big Brother UK research article, and provides our source material to ground research findings. Big Brother is another example of goals and environment impacting conflict conduction.
Tangentially related to previous research articles within this collection Impoliteness and power dynamics in intimate interactions: An analysis of Joe Blann’s ‘Things We Had’, this provides us a cross section of both reality television and intimate conflicts. This provides us some serious insight into at least the show participants ideologies when approaching the life they idealize.
Tangentially related as well to conflict within intimate interactions, but more so related to group dynamics and identity presentation Love Island UK also employs sleep deprivation, and copious amounts of alcohol to conduct conflict. This is an interesting long-form collection of clips ranking the juiciest arguments – be on the lookout for what factors elicit higher or lower rank.
N. Shepard | University of Oregon 