A theory of discourse deviation : the application of schema theory to the analysis of literary discourse
Year: 1990
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Schema theory suggests that people understand texts and experiences \nby comparing them with stereotypical mental representations of similar \ncases. This thesis examines the relevance of this theory (as developed \nin some Artificial Intelligence (AI) work of the 1970s and 1980s) to \nliterary theory and the analysis of literary texts. The general \ntheoretical framework is that of discourse analysis. In this approach, \nthe usefulness of schema theory is already widely acknowledged for the \ncontribution it can make to an explanation of 'coherence': the quality of \nmeaningfulness and unity perceived in discourse. Building upon this \nframework, relevant AI work on text processing is discussed, evaluated, \nand applied to literary and non-literary discourse. \nThe argument then moves on to literary theory, and in particular to \nthe 'scientific' tradition of formalism, structuralism and Jakobsonian \nstylistics. The central concept of this tradition is 'defamiliarization': \nthe refreshing of experience through deviation from expectation. In \nstructuralism, attention has been concentrated on text structure, and in \nJakobsonian stylistics on language. \nIt is argued that whereas AI work on text pays little attention to \nlinguistic and textual form, seeking to 'translate' texts into a neutral \nrepresentation of 'content', the literary theories referred to above have \nerred in the opposite direction, and concentrated exclusively on form. \nThrough contrastive analyses of literary and non-literary discourse, it \nis suggested that neither approach is capable of accounting for \n•literariness* on its own. The two approaches are, however, \ncomplementary, and each would benefit from the insights of the other. \nHuman beings need to change and refresh their schematic \nrepresentations of the world, texts and language. It is suggested that \nsuch changes to schemata are effected through linguistic and textual \ndeviation from expectation, but that deviations at these levels are no \nguarantee of change (as is often the case in advertisements). \nDiscourses which do. effect changes through text and language are \ndescribed as displaying 'discourse deviation*. Their primary function and \nvalue may be this effect. Discourse categorized as 'literary' is frequently \nof this type. Discourse deviation is best described by a combination of \nthe methods of A1 text analysis with formalist, structuralist and \nJakobsonian literary theories. \nIn illustration of these proposals, the thesis concludes with analyses \nof three well-known literary texts.
Author: Guy Cook
Language: English
Subfield: Literature and Literary Theory
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2409459594