Language and occupation/power Flashcards
Convergence
When we use language to resemble that used by those around us.
Divergence
When we use language to distance ourselves from others.
Power asymmetry
This is a marked difference in the power status of individuals involved in the discourse-this is also known as an unequal encounter (Flairclough, 2001), where the power of one speaker is highlighted over another speaker.
Influential Power
Is when the Person does not have power and they are trying to gain influence over you, an example would be an advertisement as they are trying to gain power over you to buy their product.
Instrumental Power
When the Person already has power over usually due to authority or law, example would be a teacher in a classroom.
Wareing (1999)
Defines power in terms of whether they represent:
Political-That held by politicians and those working in law courts.
Personal-Those who hold power as a result of their occupation or role, such as teachers and employers.
Social Group Power-Those who hold power as a result of social variables such as class, gender and age. Typically (though not exclusively) white, middle-class men hold positions of power.
Bhatia (1993)
Defines genre as ‘a recognizable communicative event characterized by a set of communicative purpose(s) identified and mutually understood by the members of the professional or academic community in which it regularly occurs’
Goal
Purpose
Mutually understood
Discourse community
A group of people who use the same professional genres and specialised lexis.
This emphasises the important role of language plays in their workplace.
Epistemic Modality
Constructions that express degrees of possibility, probability and certainty.
Deontic Modality
Constructions that express degrees of necessity and obligation.
Swales (1990)
A Discourse community has a set of common goals.
Discourse communities possess various genres and communicate with at least one genre.
Discourse communities have specific lexis.
Participants within a discourse community have a required knowledge and expertise to participate.
Koester (2004)
People pay attention to relational goals as well as task goals when they are interacting for work or business.
The nature of relationships in the workplace are reflected in and shape the language used in interactions.
Interpersonal relationships are important to complete tasks, form bonds and to show that colleagues are interested in their co-workers.
Phatic talk
Phatic talk-Used for socialising rather than sharing information-building a rapport.
Non-minimal responses
express degrees of satisfaction, enthusiasm and sometimes humour and can sometimes be ironic.
Brown and Levinson (1987)
Saving face or keeping face are central to examining language and relationships in the workplace.
