Article published In:
Pragmatics and SocietyVol. 7:2 (2016) ► pp.265–290
Rituals of outspokenness and verbal conflict
This study examines rituals of outspokenness, by analysing cases drawn from the US hidden camera show, Primetime: What Would You Do? Studying ritualistic behaviour in cases when bystanders become side participants as they stand up for victims of abuse fills a knowledge gap in pragmatics. A further merit of studying this phenomenon is that it provides insight into the reactive aspect of ritual behaviour, which is usually described in the field as a form of action rather than reaction. Furthermore, examining the morally loaded acts of rituals of outspokenness reveals the potentially complex relationship between aggression and normative behaviour.
Keywords: footing, outspokenness, rituals, aggression, intervention, morality
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