essay

Registering affect: heteroglossia in the linguistic expression of emotion

language and the politics of emotionCambridge [England] • Published In 1990 • Pages: 126-161

By: Irvine, Judith T..

Abstract
Based on a statement by Sapir (1927, 1930) that emotional expression is pervasive in linguistic structure and the communication of personality and emotional states is culturally organized in a speech community, Irvine takes up Sapir's theme of conventionality of affective performance and follows it in relation to the linguistic concept of 'register' -- a coherent complex of linguistic features linked to a situation of use (p. 127), The study of register, says the author, '…is a convenient way to look at the verbal aspects of affective display, because it suggests a set of complementary representations of feelings that are conventionalized among a community of speakers' (p. 127). In much of this study the discussion focuses on styles of speaking in a rural Wolof community -- styles that relate to the representation of affectivity on one hand and social rank on the other.
Subjects
Drives and emotions
Language
Grammar
Phonology
Sociolinguistics
Conversation
Status, role, and prestige
Castes
culture
Wolof
HRAF PubDate
1999
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Western Africa
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 1998
Field Date
1970-1971,1975,1977,1984
Coverage Date
1970-1971, 1975,1977, 1984
Coverage Place
prefecture of Tivaouane, Senegal
Notes
Judith T. Irvine
Includes bibliographical references (p. 160-161)
LCCN
90001374
LCSH
Wolof (African people)