Language and Gender in the Fairy Tale Tradition : A Linguistic Analysis of Old and New Story-Telling

Much research has been done on the social messages conveyed to children reading or listening to fairy tales. In this highly original study, the emphasis shifts from content to linguistic expression. The language and linguistic organization of a dozen versions, old and new, of the Little Red Riding Hood story are analyzed using a variety of theoretical approaches, including Critical Discourse Analysis, Conversational Analysis, Functional Grammar and Critical Stylistics, to uncover the contribution of fairy tales to the discourse of gender relations over time. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 List of Tables......Page 10 Preface......Page 11 Acknowledgements......Page 12 1.1 Introduction......Page 14 1.2 Models of text analysis......Page 15 1.3 The data......Page 18 1.4 The organization of the book......Page 25 2.1 Introduction......Page 27 2.3 Word meaning in context......Page 29 2.4 Asymmetries......Page 37 2.5 Adjectives in common......Page 40 2.6 Conclusion......Page 44 3.1 Introduction......Page 46 3.2 Representational choices and subject positions......Page 47 3.3 Patterns of inclusion and exclusion......Page 48 3.4 The representation of social actors......Page 49 3.5 The representation of social action......Page 59 3.6 Other socially salient components of the tale: the wood and the red hood......Page 65 3.7 Conclusion......Page 70 4.1 Introduction......Page 72 4.2 Who does what to whom: participants and processes......Page 74 4.3 The celebration of a girl's resourcefulness: the independent oral tradition......Page 76 4.4 Gender: the passive heroine......Page 78 4.5 In search of new identities......Page 90 4.6 Conclusion......Page 118 5.1 Introduction......Page 125 5.2 Coherence, meaning making and the subject......Page 126 5.3 The contribution of lexical cohesion to global coherence: identity chains......Page 128 5.4 Lexical sets: the characters and their environment......Page 132 5.5 Discourse organization and rhetorical patterns......Page 139 5.6 Conclusion......Page 157 6.1 Introduction......Page 160 6.2 Text, intertext and children's socialization process......Page 162 6.3 Retelling the story: the titles......Page 164 6.4 Naturalization or transfiguration of the classical tale......Page 166 6.5 Conclusion......Page 206 7 Conclusions......Page 209 Afterword: Positioning Practices and the Process of Identification of the Reader......Page 213 Appendix......Page 218 Bibliography......Page 229 C......Page 237 F......Page 238 I......Page 239 P......Page 240 S......Page 241 V......Page 242 Z......Page 243 Much research has been done on the social messages conveyed to children reading or listening to fairy tales. In this highly original study, the emphasis shifts from content to linguistic expression. The language and linguistic organization of a dozen versions, old and new, of the 'Little Red Riding Hood' story are analysed using a variety of theoretical approaches, including Critical Discourse Analysis, Conversational Analysis, Functional Grammar and Critical Stylistics, to uncover their contribution to the discourse of gender relations over time. Language and Gender in the Fairy Tale Tradition is the first attempt to investigate gender difference and gender roles through a comparison of the linguistic texture of a well-known fairy tale, 'Little Red Riding Hood', across centuries. In addition to the classical versions by Perrault and the Brothers Grimm, it discusses works by contemporary writers who have contributed re-tellings which all bring the male-dominated arrangement of the traditional tale into question. This book is for all those who are interested in understanding the interrelationship between ideology and the language in and by which a text is formulated Much research has been done on the social messages conveyed to children reading or listening to fairy tales. In this highly original study, the emphasis shifts from content to linguistic expression. The language and linguistic organization of a dozen versions, old and new, of the 'Little Red Riding Hood' story are analysed using a variety of theoretical approaches, including Critical Discourse Analysis, Functional Grammar and Critical Stylistics, to uncover their contribution to the discourse of gender relations over time. Language and Gender in the Fairy Tale Tradition derives from the belief that fairy tales have a role to play in the contemporary ideological landscape. It demonstrates the existence of a mutual relationship between children's stories and society, showing how the latter generates fairy tales according to its own opinions about child-rearing, and how fairy tales in their turn contribute to the maintenance and perpetuation of the status quo. But it also shows that the circle can be broken. This book is for all those who are interested in understanding this interrelationship between ideology and the language in and by which a text is formulated. Language And Gender In The Fairy Tale Tradition Derives From The Belief That Fairy Tales Have A Role To Play In The Contemporary Ideological Landscape. It Demonstrates The Existence Of A Mutual Relationship Between Children's Stories And Society, Showing How The Latter Generates Fairy Tales According To Its Own Opinions About Child-rearing, And How Fairy Tales In Their Turn Contribute To The Maintenance And Perpetuation Of The Status Quo. But It Also Shows That The Circle Can Be Broken. This Book Is For All Those Who Are Interested In Understanding This Interrelationship Between Ideology And The Language In And By Which A Text Is Formulated.--jacket. Introduction: Exploring Gender Issues In Fairy Tales -- Words, Gender And Power -- The Representation Of Social Practice -- Ideology And The Clause: The System Of Transitivity -- Gender And The Ideological Constitution Of Subjects -- Intertextuality, Ideology And The Tendencies Of Change -- Conclusions. Alessandra Levorato. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The language and linguistic organization of a dozen versions, old and new, of the "Little Red Riding Hood" story are analysed using a variety of theoretical approaches to uncover the contribution of fairy tales to the discourse of gender relations over time