Meaning, Image &Meaning, Image &AttitudeAttitude

ADRIANA VIZENTALADRIANA VIZENTAL

““Aurel Vlaicu” University, AradAurel Vlaicu” University, Arad

With every word we say, with With every word we say, with every gesture we make, we every gesture we make, we convey not only a variety of convey not only a variety of

meaningsmeanings and and attitudesattitudes, but , but also an also an image image of ourselvesof ourselves; ;

which, in their turn, carry which, in their turn, carry further meanings.further meanings.

I. The speaker conveys his I. The speaker conveys his meaning meaning and and attitude attitude by by way of :way of :

‘‘what his words what his words saysay’ (i.e. by the words’ ’ (i.e. by the words’ conceptual content)conceptual content)

his intonationhis intonation his paralanguage*: his tone of voice, his paralanguage*: his tone of voice,

explanatory gestures, mimicry, etc.)explanatory gestures, mimicry, etc.) Etc.Etc. * * Paralanguage = the speaker’s ‘meaningful behavior’ (the Paralanguage = the speaker’s ‘meaningful behavior’ (the

speaker is signaling that he speaker is signaling that he wants wants to convey some additional to convey some additional meaning) meaning)

II. The speaker gives II. The speaker gives information about himselfinformation about himself by by

his pronunciationhis pronunciation the quality and inflections of his voicethe quality and inflections of his voice his grammatical accuracy and the his grammatical accuracy and the

complexity of his sentencescomplexity of his sentences his body language (e.g. body posture, non-his body language (e.g. body posture, non-

intentional gestures, etc.)intentional gestures, etc.) etc.etc.

with every word he utters, with every gesture he with every word he utters, with every gesture he makes, the speaker conveys two types of makes, the speaker conveys two types of information :information :

Non-intentional informationNon-intentional information

Intentional information Intentional information

In other words :In other words :

My conclusion :My conclusion :

Clothes make the man.Clothes make the man.

Naked people have little Naked people have little

or no influence in society!or no influence in society! Mark TwainMark Twain

PronunciationPronunciation = a very important item of clothing.= a very important item of clothing.

From another perspective:From another perspective:

Speakers often Speakers often strategically manipulate strategically manipulate their linguistic and non-linguistic repertoire their linguistic and non-linguistic repertoire so as to so as to improve their personal imageimprove their personal image..

Improve their pronunciationImprove their pronunciationControl their voice Control their voice Learn grammarLearn grammarRestrain their body languageRestrain their body languageDress more elegantlyDress more elegantlySelect their subjects of discussion more carefullySelect their subjects of discussion more carefullyLearn to shut up when it is not necessary to speakLearn to shut up when it is not necessary to speak

My Fair LadyMy Fair LadyDirected by George Directed by George CukorCukor

book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lernerbook and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner Dialogue transcript, Dialogue transcript,

http://www.script-o-rama.com/oldindex.shtmlhttp://www.script-o-rama.com/oldindex.shtml

PygmalionPygmalionBy G.B. ShawBy G.B. Shaw

Henry Higgins, the phonetician:Henry Higgins, the phonetician:

An Englishman's way of speaking An Englishman's way of speaking absolutely classifies him.absolutely classifies him. The The moment he talks he makes some moment he talks he makes some other Englishman despise him.other Englishman despise him.

A ‘verbal class distinction’ : A ‘verbal class distinction’ :

It's ‘aoow’ and ‘garn’ that keep her in her place It's ‘aoow’ and ‘garn’ that keep her in her place Not her wretched clothes and dirty face ……Not her wretched clothes and dirty face …… If you spoke as she does, sir, instead of the way If you spoke as she does, sir, instead of the way you do?you do?Why, you might be selling flowers, too!Why, you might be selling flowers, too!

Karpathy, the Karpathy, the imposterologistimposterologist, about the , about the

‘Greek ambassador’‘Greek ambassador’ : :

Greek, my foot! He pretends not to know Greek, my foot! He pretends not to know English, but he can't deceive me. He's the English, but he can't deceive me. He's the son of a Yorkshire watchmaker. He speaks son of a Yorkshire watchmaker. He speaks English so villainously that he cannot utter English so villainously that he cannot utter a word without betraying his origin.a word without betraying his origin.

I help him pretend, but make him pay I help him pretend, but make him pay through the nose. I make them all paythrough the nose. I make them all pay..

Eliza DoolittleEliza Doolittle Cockney speechCockney speech

– specific allophones : /specific allophones : /aau/ instead of [əu]: u/ instead of [əu]: (/g(/gaauiŋ/ for uiŋ/ for going)going); /; /aa:/ instead of [:/ instead of [aauə] (/fluə] (/flaa:z/ :z/ for for flowers)flowers);;

– specific interjections: ‘aoow’, ‘garn’specific interjections: ‘aoow’, ‘garn’ – typical swear words: typical swear words: blimey, bloody, bloomin’blimey, bloody, bloomin’ – specific honorifics: specific honorifics: Capt'n, GovernorCapt'n, Governor – imaginative slang: imaginative slang: bloke, busybody, bloke, busybody,

absobloominlutelyabsobloominlutely – faulty grammar: faulty grammar: I ain't done nothin' wrongI ain't done nothin' wrong

loud, shrieking voiceloud, shrieking voice wide, disjointed gestureswide, disjointed gestures poorly dressed and dirtypoorly dressed and dirty

What Higgins bets :What Higgins bets :

• that in six months he can teach that in six months he can teach thatthat incarnate insult to the English languageincarnate insult to the English language to to speak such perfect English that she can be speak such perfect English that she can be accepted in the highest social circles. accepted in the highest social circles.

What Eliza remembers:What Eliza remembers:• that if she learns to speak better English that if she learns to speak better English

she can get a jobshe can get a job as a lady's maid or a as a lady's maid or a shop assistant …shop assistant …..

Eliza decides to take lessons :Eliza decides to take lessons :

She tries to present a totally different She tries to present a totally different image of herselfimage of herself::

she is no longer a poor flower girlshe is no longer a poor flower girlbut a proud, experienced and well-but a proud, experienced and well-behaved personbehaved person

Levels of her behaviorLevels of her behavior she has cleaned up (she has cleaned up (I ain't dirty! I washed my face I ain't dirty! I washed my face

an' hands before I come, I didan' hands before I come, I did.);.); she has come by taxi;she has come by taxi; she uses longer words and makes up complex she uses longer words and makes up complex

sentences (sentences (My name is of no concern to you My name is of no concern to you whatsoeverwhatsoever.); .);

her pronunciation is more careful (her pronunciation is more careful (It's business of It's business of aa [ei] [ei] personal naturepersonal nature););

her intonation is neutral (no emphatic ups and her intonation is neutral (no emphatic ups and downs);downs);

her rhythm of speech is slower;her rhythm of speech is slower; her body language – much more restrained her body language – much more restrained

(straight back, raised head, no wide gestures).(straight back, raised head, no wide gestures).

BUT: this image is unsubstantiated (just a pose); it BUT: this image is unsubstantiated (just a pose); it collapses under the pressure of Higgins’ rudeness.collapses under the pressure of Higgins’ rudeness.

Eliza learns to speak correctlyEliza learns to speak correctly(the scene at the Ascot races)(the scene at the Ascot races)

she is dressed exquisitely;she is dressed exquisitely; she body posture is perfect;she body posture is perfect; she has perfect pronunciation and intonation; she has perfect pronunciation and intonation;

YET she makes a fool of herself becauseYET she makes a fool of herself because she uses slang typical for her own class (… she uses slang typical for her own class (… they done they done

the old woman inthe old woman in [and] [and] pinchedpinched her new straw hather new straw hat);); her topics are uncharacteristic for the social her topics are uncharacteristic for the social

environment (environment (Them she lived with would have killed Them she lived with would have killed her for a hatpin, let alone a hather for a hatpin, let alone a hat););

she becomes emotional: (she overenthusiastically she becomes emotional: (she overenthusiastically encourages her horse: encourages her horse: Come on, Dover! Come on! Come on, Dover! Come on! Come on! Come on!Come on! Come on!))

she swears, using a 4-letter words:she swears, using a 4-letter words:Move your bloomin' Move your bloomin' arse!arse!

At the Embassy ballAt the Embassy ball

To everybody, Eliza appears as a true To everybody, Eliza appears as a true princess because:princess because:

Her clothes and jewels are exquisiteHer clothes and jewels are exquisite Her body language is delicate and Her body language is delicate and

restrained (her mysterious smile seems to restrained (her mysterious smile seems to hide a romantic secret);hide a romantic secret);

Her language (pronunciation, grammar; Her language (pronunciation, grammar; word choice) is educatedword choice) is educated

She knows that she must not speak if not She knows that she must not speak if not askedasked

Etc.Etc.

ThereforeTherefore

A person may be wearing the most A person may be wearing the most exclusive clothes and still be rejected exclusive clothes and still be rejected

if he is no master of the other if he is no master of the other components of components of imageimage: language and : language and behaviour (including para- and body behaviour (including para- and body language). language).

““Clothes make the man”Clothes make the man”

ReferencesReferences My Fair Lady Script – Dialogue Transcript, My Fair Lady Script – Dialogue Transcript,

http://www.script-o-rama.com/oldindex.shtml, http://www.script-o-rama.com/oldindex.shtml, accessed Feb. 2010accessed Feb. 2010

Vizental, Adriana. 2008. Vizental, Adriana. 2008. Phonetics and Phonology: Phonetics and Phonology: an introductionan introduction. 3rd edition. Editura Universităţii . 3rd edition. Editura Universităţii „Aurel Vlaicu", Arad. „Aurel Vlaicu", Arad.

Vizental, Adriana. 2009. Vizental, Adriana. 2009. Meaning and Meaning and Communication. From Semantic Meaning to Communication. From Semantic Meaning to Pragmatic Meaning.Pragmatic Meaning. Arad: Editura Universităţii Arad: Editura Universităţii „Aurel Vlaicu". „Aurel Vlaicu".

Vonnegut, Kurt. (1987). Vonnegut, Kurt. (1987). BluebeardBluebeard. New York: Dell . New York: Dell Publishing GroupPublishing Group