Discourse analysis of the pragmatic usage of the pronoun SHE referring to A CAT [Articol]

Abstract

In the article we show how the method of discourse analysis can be applied to examine pragmatic usage of the category of gender in English, its different connotative meanings. Unusual, not motivated and even illogical use of the masculine, feminine or neuter gender is often accounted for by personification, "upgrading" or "downgrading". In English, the use of the personal pronouns HE and SHE with nouns denoting animals, plants or inanimate objects is more expressive than in Romanian. It attracts reader’s attention, creates a certain psychological effect and provides foregrounding. Although little attention is paid to the category of gender in traditional grammars of English, pragmatic gender usage is an important aspect of linguistic awareness and language teaching or learning.