There are syntactic features which occur only in spoken language and they can be used for emphasis or to assure that the listener is still listening. This paper gives insights into the terminology of right dislocations (which means that the subject of the phrase is repeated either as a pronoun or with noun phrase and an operator) and afterwards analyses the different variants and their pragmatic function.
Furthermore, two corpora are searched for instances of right dislocations in Irish English. The examples found in the corpus will be analysed for their pragmatic function. The aim of this study is to see whether right dislocations are indeed “idiosyncratic Northern Irish” (British Library, Sounds Familiar, Web) or right dislocation is just a cliché of the Irish language.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Theory
2.1 Terminology
2.2 Variants of Right Dislocations
2.2.1 Full noun phrase right dislocation
2.2.2 Pronoun right dislocation
2.2.3 Inverted operator right dislocation
2.2.4 Simple operator right dislocation
2.2.5 Emphatic Tags
2.3 Pragmatic Function
3 Methodology
4 Data Analysis
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
The primary aim of this research is to investigate the usage of right dislocation structures in spoken Irish English. By analyzing data from the Global Web Based English Corpus (GloWbE) and the News of the Web Corpus (NOW), the paper examines whether these syntactic features serve as genuine markers of the Irish English variety or if they are merely perceived as a cliché, while specifically focusing on their pragmatic functions such as evaluation, clarification, and the creation of an affective bond between speaker and listener.
- Terminology and classification of right dislocation variants.
- Quantitative analysis of right dislocation usage in Irish English corpora.
- The pragmatic function of dislocated elements in casual conversation.
- Correlation between right dislocation structures and evaluative stances.
- The role of spoken language features within web-based written corpora.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Variants of Right Dislocations
As with the terminology of the phenomenon, there is also disagreement about the variants which are subsumed under the label of right dislocations. Durham (2011: 6) differentiates between three different variants, namely standard right dislocation (SRD), expanded right dislocation (ERD), and reverse right dislocation (RRD). Timmis (2015) labels these three variants as noun phrase tails, simple operator tails and inverted operator tails. Furthermore, he names another variant namely the pronoun tails. Although this paper uses the label right dislocation, in this context the classification by Timmis for the variants is used exchanging the word tails into right dislocation. Since this paper examines right dislocation usage in Irish English only these variants are explained in the following.
2.2.1 Full noun phrase right dislocation
The full noun phrase right dislocation includes a full noun phrase which is co-referential with a pronoun in the preceding clause.
(3) [This] is a lot of shite, this law. (GloWbE:IE)
(4) [He] doesn’t get annoyed, father, does he? (BNC)
This variant is described by Durham (2011) as “the canonical variant and the one which is most commonly found in other languages” (cited in Timmis 2015: 308).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Introduces the linguistic phenomenon of right dislocation as a feature of spoken language and outlines the research objective to determine its usage and function in Irish English.
2 Theory: Provides a comprehensive overview of the existing terminology and classifies the various forms of right dislocation, establishing the theoretical framework for the subsequent analysis.
3 Methodology: Details the corpora selection (GloWbE and NOW) and describes the procedure for searching and categorizing tokens of right dislocations within the chosen data.
4 Data Analysis: Presents the empirical findings from the corpora, discussing the distribution of variants and the predominant evaluative function observed in the examples.
5 Conclusion: Synthesizes the study's findings, confirming that right dislocations are active in spoken Irish English and suggesting avenues for future research into intonation and standardized naming.
Keywords
Right dislocation, Irish English, pragmatic function, corpus linguistics, GloWbE, NOW, emphatic tags, evaluative stance, spoken language, syntax, noun phrase, pronoun, affective contour, linguistic variation, discourse analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the syntactic phenomenon of right dislocation, specifically its usage, distribution, and pragmatic functions within the context of Irish English.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The research covers the classification of right dislocation variants, the pragmatic role of these structures in conversation, and the quantitative distribution of these features in large-scale corpora.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to determine whether right dislocations are an idiosyncratic feature of Irish English or merely a linguistic cliché, while demonstrating their evaluative and clarifying functions.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The study utilizes a corpus-based approach, analyzing data from the Global Web Based English Corpus (GloWbE) and the News of the Web Corpus (NOW) to find and categorize instances of the structure.
What is discussed in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the theoretical definition of the phenomenon, the categorization of its variants (such as full noun phrase and emphatic tags), and an empirical analysis of how these structures function to add an "affective contour" or evaluation to speech.
Which keywords define this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as right dislocation, Irish English, corpus linguistics, evaluative stance, and pragmatic function.
How do "emphatic tags" differ from other right dislocation variants in Irish English?
Emphatic tags are structurally similar to simple operator right dislocations but are distinguished by the inclusion of a 'so' beforehand, and they show a particularly high preference for use in the Irish English variety.
Why did the author use web-based corpora to study a "spoken language" feature?
Since right dislocation is primarily a feature of spoken language, the author argues that the language found in internet blogs—which is closer to spoken English than formal written texts—serves as a sufficient proxy for identifying these instances.
What function do these structures serve in terms of conversation management?
Beyond evaluation, these structures serve a "phatic" function, helping speakers manage planning pressures in conversation and create an affective bond with the listener.
- Quote paper
- Giuseppe Dennis Messina (Author), 2017, Right Dislocations in Spoken Irish English, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/359312
