An overview of the ten textual tools for the investigation of textual ideology proposed by Jeffries (2010).

1. Critical Stylistics
Gibreel Sadeq Alaghbary
Fulbright Scholar, SDSU
Taiz University, YEMEN
April 20th, 2013

2. Critical Stylistics
Critical
linguistics
Critical
discourse
analysis
Functional
linguistics

3. Critical Stylistics
Proponent : Lesley Jeffries
Year : 2010
Informed by :
Critical Stylistics: Roger Fowler et all (1979), Simpson (1993)
CDA: Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991), Van Dijk (2006)
Functional Linguistics: Halliday (1994)
Aim : “understand the precise ways in which texts
may transmit, reinforce or inculcate ideologies in
their readers” (Jeffries 2010, p. 12)

4. Tools of Analysis (Structural, 1)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Naming
Alternative
nouns
Choice of nouns to name vs to
indicate attitude (reference vs.
ideological evaluation)
Modification
within NP
S=NP(given; assumed; My
dog)+VP(new; proposition; won)
Propositional version allows
questioning
Nominalization
Packaging a MAI verb (usually an
evaluative qualification) into the
head noun of an NP, passing it on
as an assumed nominal
Theory informing tool lexical semantics, generative linguistics,
derivational morphology

5. Tools of Analysis (Structural, 2)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Agency and
Transitivity
Agency
Analysis of causation patterns in the clause
structure (the semantic roles of NPs in relation to
the verbal elements)
Transitivity
Analysis of the semantic structure of verbal
element in the clause: how a speaker
conceptualizes a situation (as action, event or
state) and the ideological consequence of the
transitivity choice for the discourse recipient.
Theory informing tool systemic functional linguistics

6. Tools of Analysis (Structural, 3)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Exemplifying
and Enumerating
With exemplifying, the list is indicative but with
enumerating, the list is comprehensive.
Two-part (invokes equivalence or opposition);
three-part (implications of completeness vs actual
comprehensiveness; or four-part (invitation to
add) lists.
Theory informing tool text linguistics

7. Tools of Analysis (Structural, 4)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Prioritizing
How a speaker prioritizes or downplays parts of the content
of the utterance.
Subordination
The lower the level of subordination,
the less accessible the content to close
questioning.
Information
Structure
Cleft constructions (prioritizes a nominal
element and downplays the original
proposition)
Transformation
Adjectival (resulting NP is downplayed in
relation to the rest of clause)
Ideological viewpoints that are tacitly advanced without
being built into the main proposition of the utterance
Theory informing tool generative linguistics

8. Tools of Analysis (Structural, 5)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Negating
The construction of non-existent worlds in a
particular narrative to enhance that narrative and
influence discourse recipients into fearing,
desiring or believing the conjured up reality; it is
an implicature resulting from flouting the maxim
of relation.
Theory informing tool morpho-syntax

9. Tools of Analysis (Structural,6)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Representing others’
speech
Speech
Narrator’s report of speech
Narrator’s report of speech act
Indirect speech
Free indirect speech
Direct speech
Thought
Narrator’s report of thought
Narrator’s report of though act
Indirect though
Free indirect thought
Direct thought
Theory informing tool syntax

10. Tools of Analysis (Pragma-semantic, 1)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Equating and
Contrasting
Textual
construction of
equivalence
How texts set up new synonyms, thus triggering a
host of semantic equivalence relations between
concepts conventionally not thought of as
synonymous
Textual
construction of
opposites
How texts set up new opposites, thus triggering a
host of semantic opposition relations between
concepts conventionally not thought of as in
opposition
Theory informing tool lexical semantics

11. Tools of Analysis (Pragma-semantic, 2)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Implying and
Assuming
Presuppositions
Assumptions built into the text to build a
‘consensual’ reality
Definite NPs generate existential presuppositions ;
Change of state verbs, factive verbs, cleft
constructions, iteratives, comparatives all trigger
logical presuppositions
Entailments
Propositions generated by lexical semantic
relations; used to avoid making commitments
and/or being held accountable.
Implicatures
Implied pragmatic meanings resulting from
flouting the Gricean maxims of CP: conversational,
conventional and particularized
Theory
informing tool
pragmatics

12. Tools of Analysis (Pragma-semantic, 3)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Modality
Epistemic: indicates producers’ certainty about
proposition
Deontic: producer’s opinion about necessity of
proposition
Boulomaic: producer’s desirability of the proposition
Modals explicitly give the discourse producer’s opinion (certainty, necessity, and
desirability) about the proposition. Modal meanings hypothesize alternative versions
of reality which the discourse recipient may adopt or be influenced by.
Authors may as well choose to make unmodalized (categorical) utterances which
assert the propositions.
Theory informing tool semantics, functional linguistics

13. Tools of Analysis (Pragma-semantic, 4)
Fowler et al (1979), Fairclough (1989), Fowler (1991),
Simpson (1993), Halliday (1994)
Representing time,
space and society
Deictics
How the text constructs its deictic center
and draws the recipients in causing them to
abandon their deictic centers and take a
viewing position from within the text and
so they become more susceptible to textual
ideology.
Other space
builders
Inclusive pronouns ‘we’(to conceptualize
group identity and achieve consensus) and
verbs (e,g., come) cause the recipient to
take up the space of the discourse
producer.
Theory informing tool Pragmatics

14. Thank you