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Conflict, Cooperation, and Facework in Contrasto Verbal Duels
Author(s) -
Pagliai Valentina
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of linguistic anthropology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.463
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1548-1395
pISSN - 1055-1360
DOI - 10.1111/j.1548-1395.2010.01050.x
Subject(s) - politeness , face negotiation theory , face (sociological concept) , context (archaeology) , ideology , politics , sociology , morality , politeness theory , social psychology , psychology , political science , law , history , social science , archaeology
Tuscan Contrasto verbal duels reveal a subtly complex relationship between conflict and cooperation, and between face and insults. In these duels, the performers use their arguing skills to debate the politics and morality of contemporary Italy, calling attention to contradictions. The artists cooperate in building disagreement and heightening wider social conflicts, while insults may contribute to a successful performance, thus enhancing face. The study of these duels requires a rethinking of concepts such as facework, politeness, cooperation, and conflict. Here, I argue that what counts as face depends upon both the context and the audience, and that conceptualizations of face, (im)politeness, cooperation, and conflict are at least partially ideological. [verbal duels, Contrasto , politeness and impoliteness, facework, Italy]