Emotions across Languages and Cultures: Diversity and Universals (Studies in Emotion and Social Interaction)

In this fascinating book, Anna Wierzbicka brings psychological, anthropological and linguistic insights to bear on our understanding of the way emotions are expressed and experienced in different cultures, languages, and culturally-shaped social relations. The expression of emotion in the face, body and modes of speech are all explored and Wierzbicka shows how the bodily expression of emotion varies across cultures and challenges traditional approaches to the study of facial expressions. As well as offering a perspective on human emotions based on the analysis of language and ways of talking about emotion, this intriguing and controversial book attempts to identify universals of human emotion by analysing empirical evidence from different languages and cultures. This book will be invaluable to academics and students of emotion across the social sciences. In This Ground-breaking New Book, Anna Wierzbicka Brings Psychological, Anthropological And Linguistic Insights To Bear On Our Understanding Of The Way Emotions Are Expressed And Experienced In Different Cultures, Languages, And Culturally Shaped Social Relations. The Expression Of Emotions In The Face, Body, And Modes Of Speech Are All Explored, And Wierzbicka Shows How The Bodily Expression Of Emotion Varies Across Cultures And Challenges Traditional Approaches To The Study Of Facial Expressions. As Well As Offering A New Perspective On Human Emotions Based On The Analysis Of Languages And Way Of Talking About Emotion By Analyzing Empirical Evidence From Different Languages And Cultures, This Fascinating And Controversial Book Attempts To Identify Universals Of Human Emotion. This Book Will Be Invaluable To Academics And Students Of Emotion Across The Social Sciences. Introduction : Feelings, Languages, And Cultures -- Defining Emotion Concepts : Discovering Cognitive Scenarios -- A Case Study Of Emotion In Culture : German Angst -- Reading Human Faces -- Russian Emotional Expression -- Comparing Emotional Norms Across Languages And Cultures : Polish Vs. Anglo-american -- Emotional Universals. Anna Wierzbicka. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 318-337) And Index.

In this ground-breaking book, Anna Wierzbicka brings psychological, anthropological and lingusitic insights to bear on our understanding of the way emotions are expressed and experienced in different cultures, languages, and social relations. The expression of emotion in the face, body and modes of speech are all explored and Wierzbicka shows how the bodily expression of emotion varies across cultures and challenges traditional approaches to the study of facial expressions. This book will be invaluable to academics and students of emotion across the social sciences.

According to the biologist Charles Birch (1995: ix), "Feelings are what matter most in life".