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The Use of Quotations in Discourse about Ethnicities

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Author

Editor

  • S. Cmejrkova
  • J. Hoffmannova
  • O. Mullerova
  • J. Svetla

Summary, in English

Examples from Czech and Swedish conversations illustrate how conversationalists use quotations when they define their own identity and when they speak about the identity of the others. The analysis is based on Tannens concept of constructed dialogue where direct quotation is seen as the creation of the speaker rather than the party quoted. The results indicate that quotations can be used strategically. They have not only the communicative functions to particularize, dramatize, and to create scenes but also to imitate and characterize the others: It is less threatening for the speakers to compress their valuations in quotations than to use evaluative attributes about the others. Constructed dialogue allows speakers to position those who are animated as speakers in unflattering light. The speakers who supply constructed quotations are less likely to be accused of having stereotypic opinions.

Publishing year

1998

Language

English

Pages

245-252

Publication/Series

Dialoganalyse VI. (Proceedings of the 6th International Congresss of IADA - International Association for Dialog)/Beiträge zur Dialogforschung; 17

Volume

2

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

Max Niemeyer Verlag

Topic

  • Languages and Literature

Keywords

  • positioning
  • formulating social and ethnic identity
  • quotations
  • constructed dialogue

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0940-5992