"Asterix and Obelix" – a pragmatic universe Cover Image
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"Astérix et Obélix" – un univers pragmatique
"Asterix and Obelix" – a pragmatic universe

Author(s): Alexandra Cărămizaru
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Theoretical Linguistics, Applied Linguistics, Pragmatics
Published by: Editura Universităţii din Bucureşti
Keywords: speech act; ethos; taxeme; actantial model;

Summary/Abstract: The article uses notions and concepts borrowed from Pragmatics and Discourse Analysis (i.e. speech act and ethos), combined with the actantial model developed by Greimas (1966). The author focuses on the essentially pragmatic dimension of the textual world created by Uderzo & Goscinny: the actions performed by Asterix and Obelix, the heroes of the famous comics bearing the same title, are based on their knowledge and understanding of the world they live in (dictionary and encyclopaedia), on their will to act (intention), but also on the fact that they can act (they have a mandate from their leader). This pragmatic dimension is inherent to the discourse allowing certain relationships to be established between individuals acting in specific contexts. By identifying the dominant speech acts, the author draws up the ethical profiles of the selected characters and the corresponding relations, more or les asymmetric (at the social and/or discursive level), generated by them.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 81-93
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: French