THE MEANING OF TONES IN DISCOURSE Part2
Understanding Dominance in Discourse Tones
The Prosodic Approach to Tone
- This section continues the exploration of tones in discourse, specifically focusing on the prosodic approach by David Brazil.
- Emphasis is placed on the concept of dominance and its social implications when using referring tones like rise or full rise.
Defining Dominance
- Dominance is defined as a sociological concept where one participant controls the conversation based on social relationships and context.
- Control can stem from hierarchy or knowledge disparity, influencing who leads the interaction.
Inquiries and Social Roles
- The notion of dominance relates to inquiries, where confirmation of hypotheses establishes roles such as expert or authority figure.
- New information may be presented with riseful intonation, while full rise intonation can indicate appeals for help or justifications.
Social Symmetry vs. Asymmetry
- Dominance also connects to social symmetry/asymmetry; disparities can be institutionalized through conventions or power dynamics.
- Examples include interactions among friends versus those between colleagues, highlighting different levels of control.
Video Tutorials: A Case Study in Tone Selection
Objectives of Video Tutorials
- Video tutorials serve dual purposes: facilitating spontaneous production and demonstrating how dominance affects tone selection.
Characteristics of Video Tutorials
- These tutorials are monologues that lack conversational features but may include audience-directed language like suggestions and encouragement.
Emergence of New Genres
- Video tutorials represent a new genre created to meet modern communicative needs through technology, featuring structured introductions and conclusions.
Metadiscourse Elements in Student Presentations
Findings from Research on Intonation Patterns
- Research indicates students show some acquisition of metadiscourse elements with specific functions during presentations.
Use of Interactive Markers
- Students frequently use interactive metadiscourse markers but focus less on evaluating text or appealing to viewers.