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Sociocultural Dimensions of Lexis and Text in the History of English
Edited by Peter Petré, Hubert Cuyckens and Frauke D'hoedt
[Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 343] 2018
► pp. 125–150

Chapter 6
Spatio-temporal systems in Chaucer

This paper presents a systematic analysis of synchronic spatio-temporal systems in Chaucer’s language against the background of research in historical pragmatics and discourse analysis. The data consists of The Canterbury tales (fiction) and A treatise on the astrolabe (handbook). After defining spatio-temporal systems, I carry out a frequency study of the speaker’s use of spatio-temporal elements, by comparing the two registers and contrasting proximal and distal elements. A qualitative analysis then highlights typical patterns of spatio-temporal elements in discourse. It reveals how proximal or distal elements combine in conveying a proximal or distal perspective and how these perspectives change in discourse.

Keywords: spatio-temporal system, Chaucer, historical pragmatics, discourse
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.What are spatio-temporal systems?
  • 3.Elements of space and time
    • 3.1Frequency analysis
    • 3.2Proximal vs. distal elements
  • 4.Spatio-temporal systems in discourse
    • 4.1Typical combinations
    • 4.2Discourse-structuring elements
    • 4.3Combining proximal or distal elements
    • 4.4The alternation between proximal and distal perspectives
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 4 July 2018
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.343.06nak
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2021. Spatio-Temporal Systems in Shakespeare’s Dialogues: A Case from Julius Caesar . Studia Anglica Posnaniensia 0:0 DOI logo

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