Stylistics in the EFLit classroom: Using free indirect discourse

Summary

This article approaches literary discourse from a functional pragmatic perspective which sees literature as an act of communication. From this angle and from an understanding of context of language use, Free Indirect Discourse (FID) can be considered as the mode of speech and thought presentation which best expresses the poliphony of voices in a text and, by implication, the multiplicity of perspectives which modern writing has been exploring for various reasons. Although not a modern invention, nor specific to English, this mode of writing can be very helpful to the English as a Foreign Literature (EFLit) learner. In the light of recent developments in linguistics, the present study reviews some theoretical models, discusses the stylistic implications of FID in an EFL context, and demonstrates how language and literature can be integrated from a functional perspective in a class intended for sensitising both language and literature learners to the perception, description, and creation of FID.

Hierdie artikel benader literêre diskoers vanuit ‘n funksionele pragmatiese perspektief wat literatuur beskou as ‘n kommunikasiehandeling. Vanuit hierdie hoek en vanuit ‘n begrip van konteks van taalgebruik, kan Vrye Indirekte Diskoers (VID) beskou word as die wyse waarop spraak en gedagtes weergegee word wat die polifonie van stemme in ‘n teks die beste uitdruk. By implikasie geld dit ook vir die meervoudigheid van perspektiewe wat die moderne skryfkuns om verskeie redes ontgin. Hoewel dit nie ‘n moderne uitvindsel is of spesifiek is aan Engels nie, kan hierdie wyse van skryf vir die Engels as ‘n vreemde Literatuur (EFLit)‐leerder baie nuttig wees. In die lig van onlangse ontwikkelings in die linguistiek gee hierdie studie ‘n oorsig van sommige teoretiese modelle, bespreek die stilistiese implikasies van VID in ‘n EFL konteks en demonstreer hoe taal en literatuur geïntegreer kan word vanuit ‘n funksionele perspektief in ‘n Was wat bedoel is om sowel taal as literatuurleerders te sensitiseer vir die persepsie, beskrywing en skepping van VID.

Keywords:

• Literary awareness
• pedagogic stylistics
• free indirect discourse
• EFL
• pragmatics

Notes

1. English as a Foreign Literature