Discourse Processes between Reason and Emotion

This book addresses different forms of discourse by analysing the emergence of power dynamics in communication and their importance in shaping the production and reception of messages. The chapters focus on specific cognitive aspects, such as the verbal expression of reasoning or emotions, as well as on linguistic and discursive processes. The interaction between reasoning, feelings, and emotions is described in relation to several fields of discourse where power dynamics may emerge and includes, among others, political, media, and academic discourse. This volume aims to include representative instances of this heterogeneity and is deeply rooted, both theoretically and methodologically, in the acknowledgment that the investigation of the complex interaction between reason and emotion in discursive productions cannot be exempt from the adoption of a multi-disciplinary perspective. By providing a critical reflection of their methodological decisions, and describing the implications of their research projects, the contributors offer insights which are relevant for students, researchers, and practitioners operating in the broad field of discourse studies. Patrizia Anesa is a researcher in English Language and Translation at the University of Bergamo, Italy. She holds a PhD in English Studies, with a specialisation in professional communication. Her research interests lie mostly in the area of specialised discourse, and in particular in the investigation of knowledge asymmetries in expert-lay communication. Aurora Fragonara is an adjunct lecturer in French Language and Linguistics at the University of Bergamo and the University of Milan, Italy. She holds a PhD in Linguistics from the research centre CREM at the University of Lorraine, France. Her main research interests are French discourse analysis and enunciation theory, which she combines with cognitive linguistics, pragmatics, and semiotics.