Fiction and Pragmatics

The study of the pragmatics of fiction is a complex and multi-layered communicative act that deserves attention in its own right. It explores the participation structure, performance aspect, interaction between readers and viewers, and pragmatic effects of drawing on indexical linguistic features for evoking ideologies in characterisation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 09 March 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The study of the pragmatics of fiction is a vibrant and evolving field that recognizes the complexity and multi-layered nature of fictional texts as communicative acts that warrant attention in pragmatic research. It emphasizes the need to understand these texts as cultural artifacts that are rich in possibilities for exploring pragmatic effects and pragmatic theorizing. The title of this Element encompasses four key issues that are central to the study of the pragmatics of fiction.

Firstly, it explores the participation structure of fictional texts, recognizing that they involve the active engagement of readers or viewers in constructing meaning. It examines how the textual elements, such as characters, plot, and setting, interact with the audience to create a shared understanding and interpretation of the story.

Secondly, the Element emphasizes the performance aspect of fictional texts, recognizing that they are not static but dynamic entities that are shaped by the actors, directors, and producers who bring them to life. It explores how the performance style, gestures, and facial expressions of actors contribute to the interpretation and understanding of the characters and the overall narrative.

Thirdly, the Element examines the interaction between readers or viewers and the fictional texts, recognizing that the audience plays a crucial role in shaping the pragmatic effects of the story. It explores how the audience's prior knowledge, cultural background, and personal experiences influence their interpretation and understanding of the text, and how this interaction can lead to different pragmatic outcomes.

Lastly, the Element explores the pragmatic effects of drawing on indexical linguistic features for evoking ideologies in characterisation. It examines how the use of specific language, vocabulary, and rhetorical devices can convey and reinforce ideologies, and how this can contribute to the portrayal of characters and the overall narrative.

In conclusion, the study of the pragmatics of fiction is a rich and interdisciplinary field that encompasses a wide range of issues. By recognizing the complexity and multi-layered nature of fictional texts, and by exploring the participation structure, performance aspect, interaction between readers or viewers, and pragmatic effects of drawing on indexical linguistic features, we can gain a deeper understanding of the ways in which fiction communicates and shapes our understanding of the world. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core, allowing scholars and researchers worldwide to access and contribute to the ongoing discourse in this field.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 228 x 153 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009095433