An Investigation of the Marked Parallel Structure in Alice Munro’s “Amundsen”

Usa Padgate

doi:10.7575/aiac.alls.v.9n.3p.60

Abstract

Parallel structure is one linguistic feature implemented to bring aesthetics to the delivery of the English language. Traditional grammar and writing classes usually emphasize that parallelism must be observed when the language is used. In literature, as well as in real-life usage, however, parallelism is often flaunted to effect various purposes, a fact that is generally overlooked in grammar classrooms. In the present study, the concept of linguistic markedness is applied to the investigation of the parallel structure in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen” in order to explore the pragmatic usage of parallelism, as opposed to the grammatical usage listed in general commercial grammar textbooks and to answer the research question: How and for what purposes is parallel structure flaunted in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen”? The investigation of the marked parallel structure in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen” shows that approximately one out of four instances of parallel structure is flaunted to effect emphasis, exaggeration, elaboration and evaluation, which affirms that parallelism is routinely observed as well as purposefully flaunted to bring about linguistic flavours that reflect hands-on usage of the language.

Highlights

The instruction of the English grammar has been part of the general EFL (English as a Foreign Language) pedagogy worldwide for over 50 years (Graham, 2011, p.30), at various degrees of involvement of different approaches and approval from the concerned academic community
The concept of linguistic markedness is applied to the investigation of the parallel structure in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen” in order to explore the pragmatic usage of parallelism, as opposed to the grammatical usage listed in general commercial grammar textbooks and to answer the research question: How and for what purposes is parallel structure flaunted in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen”? The investigation of the marked parallel structure in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen” shows that approximately one out of four instances of parallel structure is flaunted to effect emphasis, exaggeration, elaboration and evaluation, which affirms that parallelism is routinely observed as well as purposefully flaunted to bring about linguistic flavours that reflect hands-on usage of the language
The concept of linguistic markedness is applied to the investigation of the parallel structure in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen” in order to explore the pragmatic usage of parallelism, as opposed to the grammatical usage listed in general commercial grammar textbooks and to answer the following research question: How and for what purposes is parallel structure flaunted in Alice Munro’s short story “Amundsen”?

Summary

Introduction

The instruction of the English grammar has been part of the general EFL (English as a Foreign Language) pedagogy worldwide for over 50 years (Graham, 2011, p.30), at various degrees of involvement of different approaches and approval from the concerned academic community. In spite of the discrepancy in the conviction for the pedagogical merit of grammar instruction, many EFL teachers still rely on deductive methods to introduce grammar in language classrooms They explain the rules and give examples of how these rules are applied in the language structure. Many use commercial grammar textbooks as references as well as sources of practice exercises for their students These textbooks usually detail rigid rules of the English grammar and provide exercises designed to encourage learners to apply those rules in the English structure. This methodical approach to grammar instruction proves efficient for rote learning, it is devoid of the practical merit of language in use where structural exemptions abound

Methods

Results

Conclusion