Panel 12. Intertextuality and interpersonality in COVID-19 communication (ENG)

Organizers: Ilona Tragel, Külli Habicht (University of Tartu); Piret Voolaid ja Anastasiya Fiadotava (Estonian Literary Museum)

The discourse that we are all sharing now has changed our worldview in a short time. For example, in Estonian society, COVID-19 communication has included messages ranging from total closure to persuading people of the safety of vaccination.
In a communication act, an author assumes and gives a recipient a certain discursive role. These roles determine interpersonal relationships in communication. The intertextuality of COVID-19 communication is manifested in all texts of the current discourse. The workshop looks, for example, at how the restrictions imposed by the authorities are reflected in the signs placed on the doors of the shops and other institutions, etc., and also at the way in which the new circumstances are reflected in popular language use, such as in Internet memes.

The discussion of units at different linguistic levels (vocabulary, forms, constructions, text) with appropriate theoretical tools and methods is expected (see keywords).

Keywords:

  • communication theory, semiotics, language policy;
  • linguistic landscapes, text analysis, speech act theory, politeness theory; 
  • morphosyntax, semantics, pragmatics; 
  • causality, modality, interpersonality / intersubjectivity, intertextuality;
  • public use of language in crisis communication, eg language jokes, use of Internet memes

Literature

Austin, John Langshaw 2018. Kuidas teha sõnadega asju. Tallinn: TLÜ Kirjastus [Austin, J. L. 1962). How to Do Things with Words. Oxford University Press.]

Brown, P., & Levinson, S. 1987. Politeness: Some Universals in Language Usage. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Fairclough, Norman 2003. Analysing Discourse. Textual Analysis for Social Research. London, New York: Routledge.

Hiiemäe, Reet; Kalda, Mare; Kõiva, Mare; Voolaid, Piret (2021). Vernacular Reactions to COVID-19 in Estonia: Crisis Folklore and Coping. Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore, 82, 21−52. DOI: 10.7592/FEJF2021.82.estonia.

Jones, R. (Ed.) 2021. Viral Discourse. (Elements in Applied Linguistics). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108986465

Shohamy, E. Gorter, D. (toim) 2009. Linguistic Landscape: Expanding the Scenery. London: Routledge. doi:10.1017/9781108986465

Tragel, Ilona, Külli Habicht 2021. Erakorralise aja sildikeel. Oma Keel 1. lk 56-65. 

P12