Robert,
In chapter 5 of my PhD thesis (2001, 'On the cognitive role of genre: a
relevance-theoretic perspective, University of London), I have analysed an
allegory/parable in some detail. The key is that expectations of relevance
are raised on several levels of communication, and can be adjustet as the
on-line comprehension process continues. This licenses and restricts which
'illustration-implications' the addressee will treat as intended. I am happy
to send you an electronic copy of this chapter (or even of the whole thesis,
if you want) in PDF format if you contact me off-list.
Best,
Christoph Unger
on 26.02.2001 19:59 Uhr, Robert Stephenson at RobertS@twu.ca wrote:
> Hello everyone,
>
> I am presently writing my MA thesis in applied linguistics on RT and
> parable interpretation. Has anyone looked at RT and illustrations? I
> believe that illustrative discourse can infer a principle (?) quite apart
> from the intention of the teller or context. Does the form 'illustration'
> also provide implicatures that the audience should not stop with the first
> arrived at inference and search for further implicatures. At what point in
> the context of a story or 'illustration' should the audience decide that it
> should waste no further processing effort?
> Part of my confusion seems to come from the possibility that a
> 'story' or 'illustration' can be seen as a coded unit, but the inferences do
> not have to necessarily arise from the plot or characters, etc, in the
> story. I see connections between this and S&W's example of the character
> who writes his friend from Russia proclaiming the wonderful life he has
> except for not being able to find green ink. If anyone can assist me with
> any of this, I'd be grateful.
>
> Robert Stephenson
Christoph Unger
Mozartstr. 26
D-35625 Huettenberg
Germany
Phone: (49) 6403 73782
Fax (and office phone): (49) 6403 78066
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Feb 27 2001 - 11:07:40 GMT