Talking in clichés : the use of stock phrases in discourse and communication / Stella Bullo, Manchester Metropolitan University, Derek Bousfield, Manchester Metropolitan University.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bullo, Stella, 1975- author.

Bousfield, Derek, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Clichés.

Discourse analysis.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vi, 200 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2023.

Summary:

For decades, social perspectives, and even academic studies of language, have considered clichés as a hackneyed, tired, lazy, unthinking and uninspiring form of communication. Authored by two established scholars in the fields of Systemic-Functional Linguistics and Discourse Studies and Pragmatics, this cutting-edge book comprehensively explores the perception and use of clichés in language from these complementary perspectives. It draws data from a variety of both written and spoken sources, to re-interrogate and re-imagine the nature, role and usage of clichés, identifying the innovative and creative ways in which the concepts are utilised in communication, interaction, and in self-presentation. Observing a rich, complex layering of usage, the authors deconstruct the many and varied ways in which clichés operate and are interdependently constructed; from the role they play in discourse in general, to their functions as argumentative strategies, as constructs of social cognition, as politeness strategies, and finally as markers of identity.

Contents:

Cover

Half-title page

Title page

Copyright page

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

Acknowledgements

Permissions

List of Abbreviations

Chapter One On Clichés

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Scope of This Book

1.3 Structure of the Book

Chapter Two Clichés in Discourse

2.1 Approaches to Clichés

Fowler

Partridge

Kirkpatrick

2.2 A Formulaic Language View

Categories of Formulaic Sequences

Functions of Formulaic Sequences

2.3 A Discourse View

2.4 A Socio-semiotic View

2.5 Clichés as Socio-semiotic Resources in Discourse

2.6 Clichés, Genre and Communities of Practice

2.7 What Counts as a Cliché in This Book

Chapter Three Clichés as Argumentative Strategies

3.1 Clichés as Topoi

3.2 Argumentation in News Reception and Audience Participation

3.3 Data and Methods

News Comments as Social Media and the Brexit Context

Data Description

Analytical Tools

3.4 Findings

Legitimation

Othering

Authenticity

3.5 Discussion

Chapter Four Clichés as Social Cognition

4.1 Clichés as Socio-cognitive Representations

4.2 Brands in Advertising and Corporate Discourse

4.3 Data and Methods

4.4 Findings

Clichés in Advertisements

Preference and Emotion

Locality and Rationality

Clichés in Corporate Mission Statements

Numbers and Measurements

everything we do

first-class

go the extra mile

sets us apart

Money, Commerce and Affluence

a wealth of

General and Abstract Terms: Importance

at the heart of

at the forefront of

Emotional Actions, States and Processes: Contentment

we pride ourselves on

Psychological Actions, States and Processes: Ability

a track record of

4.5 Discussion

Chapter Five Clichés as Politeness Strategies in Evaluation.

5.1 Clichés in Interpersonal Relationships

5.2 Evaluation and Appraisal

5.3 Clichés and Politeness in Evaluation

5.4 Data and Methods

Clichés in Organisational Discourse

5.5 Findings

Judgement

Affect

Appreciation

5.6 Discussion

Chapter Six Clichés as Identity Markers

6.1 Clichés in Face and Identity

6.2 Reality TV and Broadcast Discourse

6.3 Data and Methods

Data

Methods

6.4 Findings

Confrontational and Fear Inducing

Uniqueness

Tough and Controlling

Ambitious

Ready for Business

6.5 Discussion

Chapter Seven Concluding Remarks

Appendix 1: Clichés in News Comments

Authority

Common Sense

Reality

Burden

Elitism

Certainty

Denial

Desperation

Strength

History

Immaturity

Threat

People

Reality/Immaturity

Responsibility

Urgency

Uncertainty

Usefulness

Uselessness

Appendix 2: Clichés in Corporate Mission Statements

first class/first-class

pride [ourselves] on

set us apart

Appendix 3: Clichés in Evaluation

Appendix 4: Clic hés as Identity Markers in BBC's Reality TV Show, The Apprentice

References

Index.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 27 Oct 2022).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-108-63438-9

1-108-58031-9

1-108-55901-8

OCLC:

1376931333