Class 4: Field, Tenor and Mode and its 'dialogue' with Genre

In this class, we introduce and discuss the three variables of the "context of situation" or REGISTER: FIELD, TENOR and MODE. We claim that FIELD entails some routinized or conventionalized socio-semiotic DOING. In passing, we mention possible connections between FIELD and "Speech Act Theory". As for TENOR, we claim that it entails the construction or "self an other(ness)" in contexts of social interaction. We also seize the chance to introduce "Politeness and Face Theory" and content that politeness-related phenomena are one way of realizing TENOR. As for MODE, we advocate Halliday's distinction between CHANNEL and MEDIA and account for such categories in relation to a sample text produced in a specific context of interaction - the writing of an email - so that we can draw connections between the variables of REGISTER and GENRE, which we discuss from a SFL and a Bakhtinian perspective. Last but not least, it is important to mention that we attempt to incorporate Lakoff's notion of FRAMING and Bourdieu's notion of HABITUS in our argumentation. We hope you will enjoy this class!!!
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