A Multi-dimensional Approach to Discourse Coherence

Through the analysis of media and literary discourse, this book explores the interface between the structural and cognitive aspects of standard coherence and the more creative realisations of the notion. The study stresses the need to conceive of discourse coherence as a multi-dimensional phenomenon consisting of numerous procedural components.

This book presents a comprehensive study of the subject of text and discourse coherence, integrating some of the traditional trends of discourse analysis and creating new channels of research which help to understand the notion further. Based on the work of leading theoreticians and on the actual consideration of authentic linguistic material, the book identifies the structural and cognitive aspects of standard discourse coherence and, as a variation from other mainstream approaches, it also explores the more subjective and culturally-bound conceptual aspects of coherence construction in creative modes of discourse. To achieve these aims, the study incorporates concepts and analytical practices from cognitive linguistic theories of conceptualisation; additionally, it draws from theories of communication to address the idiosyncratic and socio-cultural aspects which affect the formation of coherent discourse patterns. The intention is to broaden the perspective of the subject and to focus on its complexity, as well as to stress the need to conceive of discourse coherence as a multi-dimensional phenomenon consisting of numerous procedural components.

Auteur

Pilar Alonso is Associate Professor of English Linguistics in the English Department at the University of Salamanca, Spain. Her main fields of research are Discourse Analysis, Discourse Coherence and Cognitive Linguistics with a special interest in Literary Discourse Analysis. She has published extensively on semantic, pragmatic and cognitive aspects of literary and media discourse.

Résumé
«This book is highly recommended to those who are interested in DA, CL or pragmatics.»
(Xiao Zhi-ye, Discourse Studies 18(1) 2016)

Contenu
Contents: Describing structural coherence Developing cognitive coherence.