Workshop: Dr. Gail Forey (Senior Lecturer, University of Bath) "An introduction to Appraisal Analysis and comlaint texts"

Time: 17:30 - 19:30

Place: WU, Building D2, Entrance D, 2nd floor, D2.2.228

Abstract: This workshop focuses on how writers/speakers establish an evaluative stance to initiate, maintain and adjust the interpersonal intensity of an interaction. In order to make sense of evaluative language, you will be introduced to Appraisal Analysis (Martin and White, 2005). You will apply Appraisal Analysis to investigate the interactive rise and fall of emotion in problematic interactions. The texts analysed in this workshop are authentic in-bound telephone and email customer initiated complaints. The customer initiated the complaint aim to seek information, clarification, or a resolution to a problem, and the customer service representative role is to respond and offer a solution where possible. The analyses that emerges reveal a limited reliance on explicit attitude on the part of the interlocutors, as attitude is more often implied rather than expressed explicitly. Appraisal analysis offers a rigorous analytical framework which brings to light commonly employed strategies that impact the dynamic construction of emotion in texts. Understanding the discourse semantic patterns of evaluative language and how emotional meaning is negotiated through language can be a valuable resource applicable to conflict-resolution, consensus in talk, understanding literary texts, and a range of other contexts.