Using the appraisal framework: An introduction for language researchers

Description: The appraisal framework provides a means of classifying instances of evaluative lexis and evaluative moves in discourse. The types of evaluative language used in any set of texts depend crucially on the social purposes these texts are meant to serve, and thus appraisal analysis can reveal something about the social context in which any set of texts takes part, as well as the interpersonal orientation of the speaker/writer toward his or her interlocutors. The first part of the presentation will provide a necessarily brief outline of the appraisal framework, while the second part will provide an opportunity to perform some analyses of sample texts for comparative purposes. Pedagogical applications for the appraisal framework have so far been concerned with the academic literacy and the notion of authority or voice, especially with 2nd language learners in tertiary studies (see for example, Hood 2005, Tang 2004), the genre of history (e.g. Coffin 2000), and genre-based pedagogy in schools (see Iedema et al 1998 (2008)). The session will conclude with a discussion of possibilities for application of the framework in the academic context in Japan.

Bio: Alexanne Don worked in Japan for eleven years, teaching English at a variety of institutions in Fukuoka, before moving to the UK in 2000 to pursue her academic research on the linguistics of email list interaction. She obtained her doctorate from the University of Birmingham in 2007, after moving back to Australia. Her research interests concern applications of Systemic Functional Linguistics - including genre pedagogy, Critical Discourse Analysis, and the use of the Appraisal framework in the investigation of argument structure. She is Honorary Associate in the Department of Linguistics, University of Sydney, and is presently involved in a collection theorising the language of power and solidarity.

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Contact Fukuoka JALT Chapter:

URL: http://www.fukuokajalt.org

Jack Brajcich:

jack_brajcich@hotmail.com

Upcoming Events for Fukuoka JALT Chapter:

Saturday, April 3rd, 2010

Developing Lexical Competence: From Theory to Classroom Practice to Online Application

Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Location: Fukuoka

Saturday, October 2nd, 2010

Fukuoka JALT English Teaching and Research Conference 2010