Elastic Language: How and Why We Stretch our Words - Hardcover

Zhang, Grace Q.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1107028442 ISBN 13: 9781107028449

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2015

Synopsis

Elastic language carries non-specific and stretchable meaning, as in 'He loves her, kind of'. It is used like a slingshot, targeting various strategic goals. Consolidating current research and charting new directions, this book develops a refreshing theory of elasticity, empirically attested by natural language data from tension-prone encounters between Australian Customs officers and passengers. The theory proposes three principles (fluidity, stretchability and strategy) and offers a systematic look at how elastic language, as a sliding scale, works to balance strengthening and weakening speech tones, to firm and soften a speaker's stance, and to reveal and evade the truth. The comparative analysis of forms, functions, and context confirms that elastic language is fluid, stretchable, and strategic. It serves both cooperative and competitive functions, and social and speech factors impact on its use. This book will appeal to students and researchers working in pragmatics, applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, discourse analysis, and communication.

About this title

About the Author

Grace Q. Zhang is an Associate Professor at Curtin University of Technology, Perth. She was awarded a Ph.D. in linguistics by the University of Edinburgh in 1996, and has published extensively on elastic/vague language.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1107028442
• ISBN 13: 9781107028449
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 260