Semovergent Paralanguage Converging With Discourse Semantics

Ngo, Hood, Martin, Painter, Smith & Zappavigna (2022: 28-9, 233):

Semovergent paralanguage is convergent with the lexicogrammar and discourse semantics of spoken language (its content plane). We adopt a discourse semantic perspective on these meaning-making resources here (Martin and Rose, [2003] 2007). Drawing on terms from Painter et al. (2013) we can position ideational paralanguage as concurring with IDEATION systems (but not CONNEXION, as will be discussed later), interpersonal paralanguage as resonating with APPRAISAL systems (but not NEGOTIATION, as will be discussed later) and textual body language as coordinating information flow alongside IDENTIFICATION and PERIODICITY²⁸ systems. These convergences are outlined in Table 1.6.

 

²⁸ Semovergent synchronicity is concerned with the syncing of paralanguage with periodic structure composed above and beyond prosodic phonology.

Blogger Comments:

[1] This is recycled verbatim from Martin & Zappavigna (2019). Here are the comments from the review of Martin & Zappavigna (2019): Seriously Misunderstanding Cléirigh's Epilinguistic Body Language.

[2] This slightly altered from Martin & Zappavigna (2019), but see the original comments from the review of Martin & Zappavigna (2019):

• Ideational Semovergent Paralanguage Concurring With Ideation And Connexion
• Interpersonal Paralanguage Resonating With Negotiation And Appraisal
• Textual Paralanguage "Syncing" With Identification And Periodicity

[3] It will be seen that the "convergences" that the authors propose are between the expression plane of semovergent paralanguage [epilinguistic body language] and the content plane of language. Here the authors reveal their serious misunderstanding of paralanguage as just an expression plane system. See also from the review of Martin & Zappavigna (2019):

• The Argument That Paralanguage Is An Expression System Of Language
• Paralanguage As Language Expression