PRESENTED DISCOURSE IN POPULAR SCIENCE NARRATIVES OF DISCOVERY: COMMUNICATIVE SIDE OF THOUGHT PRESENTATION
PRESENTED DISCOURSE IN POPULAR SCIENCE NARRATIVES OF DISCOVERY: COMMUNICATIVE SIDE OF THOUGHT PRESENTATION
Author(s): Olga A. PilkingtonSubject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, Communication studies, Philosophy of Language, Theory of Communication, Theory of Literature
Published by: Addleton Academic Publishers
Keywords: presented discourse; presented thought; popular science; narrative; discovery; non-fiction;
Summary/Abstract: Thought presentation is considered the means of revealing an actant’s inner world. However, a close look at popular science narratives of discovery suggests that presentation of thought serves to introduce scientific hypotheses and to announce discoveries – discourse acts that are outwardly oriented. The communicative nature of thought presentation in the narratives manifests through verb patterns observed in reporting clauses. Such an approach is seen as a mitigating strategy by means of which the authors renounce access to the inner worlds of scientists they describe. This observation points to a greater distinction between the functions of thought presentation in fiction and in non-fiction than is common to assume. The study compares data from popular science narratives of discovery with presented discourse in fiction and non-fiction examined by the Semino and Short (2004) corpus analysis.
Journal: Linguistic and Philosophical Investigations
- Issue Year: 2018
- Issue No: 17
- Page Range: 7-28
- Page Count: 22
- Language: English
- Content File-PDF
