SLE 2012

45th Annual Meeting of the Societas Linguistica Europaea

29 August - 1 September 2012

August – September 2012

Clashing identity constructions? – A corpus-based

study of the discursive creation of a consumer

identity in official tourist information websites vs.

opinion forums

Proyecto precompetitivo Universitat de València Implementación y explotación léxica del corpus turístico multilingüe de la Comunidad Valenciana (COMETVAL). Proyecto I+D de la Dirección General de Investigación y Gestión del Plan Nacional Análisis léxico y discursivo de corpus paralelos y comparables (español-inglés-francés) de páginas electrónicas de promoción turística.Ref.: FFI2011-24712. Convocatoria 2011 (length: 3 años)

Ref: UV-AE-10-2447. Rosana Dolón dolon@uv.es

Universitat de València

[Escribir la dirección de la compañía]

OFFICIAL TOURIST INFORMATION WEBSITES

204 texts

73.800 words

London

• uses of CHILD, CHILDREN, KIDS are not random.

• preferred choice: a collectivized social actor CHILDREN AND KIDS

(also FAMILY including an assimilated child actor, and FAMILIES, the

plural collective).

• CHILDREN and KIDS preferably used in predicate position: beneficiary agents, excluded as agentive participants.

• The lexical choices and grammatical structures bring to light

different social constructions for KIDS and CHILDREN as touristic

consumers, as well as specific marketing strategies:

strong bonding and complicity of writer towards parents

typification – stereotyping of the kids’ tastes and preferences

exclusion or assimilation of the child as a social actor.

Tourist information websites

(official tourist information website

London)

London

204 texts

73.800 words

Traveller forums (The TripAdvisor)

London

189 threads (texts) 1311 out of 21.507 scrutinized threads 136.256 words

KIDS in subject position

Kids can gawp up

Kids can find out about food

Kids can benefit from free or discounted travel Kids can choose

Kids can benefit Kids can handle treasures Kids can climb

Kids can learn crafts Kids can learn about the days before computers Kids get to choose any pizza or pasta or chicken nuggets

Kids can catch a glimpse of London Kids can enjoy some attractions Kids can sit (outside) with you Kids could see the active volcano

Kids love pizza and pasta

Kids love Halloween

Kids love sampling the dim sum

Kids love playing in the teepees

Kids absolutely loved Covent Garden My kids love Kew Gardens My kids love the London Aquarium My kids love it [a pantomime] The kids loved it [swimming pool] My kids loved the city Our kids enjoyed [the Tower of London] Both of our kids enjoyed Windsor The kids really enjoyed the castle Our kids really enjoyed London My kids generally enjoy theme parks If your kids like castles Kids seem to love the selection of Van Gogh’s paintings Kids like to see it [Madame Tussaud’s]

el The kids may get bored (before the 3 hours are up) Kids may really enjoy (a day in Provins) The kids maybe so, maybe not (like Westminster) Kids might also enjoy a river cruise… Kids might also enjoy a day walking the city walls Kids might like a toy routemaster bus Kids might like snow… Kids might like the ghost walks… Kids might like to see that too [bike tricks] Kids might love paying them a visit [ Hamley’s + Toys’re us] You are doing something that the kids might not enjoy so much

Kids who are too young to stay out late Kids who can of course get involved themselves Kids who don’t spend too much time in cathedrals Kids who enjoy a train ride more than flights Kids who like Harry Potter Kids who may land up complaining [8 hour flight]

I think your kids will be interested in 2-3 hour tour I think the kids will be free (I feel) our kids will enjoy it I believe my kids will love that I think my kids will find that stuff very cool (I) see what the kids will get out of Paris I’m not sure if my kids will like the Tower of London I’m not sure the kids would care for it I’m sure the kids would enjoy it I think your kids would like it I think most kids would like those There are figures of people your kids would be interested in

Kids may need a photocard

Kids may not have heard of Pete Townsend

Kids might get bored? Kids will love having a thrilling outdoor activity

Kids will love browsing around

Kids will love listening to the storyteller Kids will develop their social skills

Kids will be a little older and perhaps enjoy London Kids will stay there playing all day [museum exhibits] Kids will travel free on the Tube and buses Your kids will have a ball – mine loved using the underground

Your kids will like it Your kids would be thrilled with it Your kids would probably find it less appealing (than the ad) Your kids would love the sharks The kids would love the lights The kids would like to be near a beach The kids will have more room to stretch out Kids will love gifts from Hamley’s Kids will love the sleeper [train] Kids will love The Woman in Black My kids will recognize about 10 or so figures My kids would be free for travel cards My kids would love it My kids wouldn’t [choose some activities from the guidebook] but…

Kids are kids Kids are huge fans of The kids are big fans of My kids are never a fan of that My kids are very picky If kids are interested If your kids are into the movie Your kids are not into museums My kids were lukewarm about the idea of… My kids are teens The kids are a bit older Your kids are not of the age [stay in rooms by themsv.] My kids were younger The kids were very young My kids were complete troopers My kids are good travellers The kids are actually pretty good [not cranky] Your kids are good in crowds

KIDS in predicate position

When I brought my wife and 2 kids over… I get my kids flown out I’m bringing my three kids to London I’m going to bring along my two kids I brought my kids to London I also want to take my kids to watch Harry Potter I’ve just taken my kids I wouldn’t dream of taking the kids… I have taken kids of all ages into London

(Chessington World of Adventures) is more focused at kids (Blenheim Palace) aimed specifically at kids Interactive displays that are geared towards kids The place is very much geared towards kids

London branches offer a kids menu Restaurants offer kids meals Fire and Stone offers gourmet pizza plus a kids menu Festivals have a kids area

Hyde Park has a lot to keep the kids occupied

(You) have a look at the kids section in TimeOut London (you) bring the kids, they’ll love the experience (you) give at least a day for the kids to work through some of the jet lag (you) [at British Museum] be sure to get the kids audio visual trail (you) leave the kids with grandparents (you) have your kids go through it [guide book] (you) let your kids feed the ducks in St James Park (you) let the kids decide where they would like to go. (you) let your kids feed the ducks in St. James Park. (you) The goal is to let the kids experience being in France. (you) see by all means to take your kids to something like a Patisserie Valerie Café (you) get your kids to look at a guidebook and choose (some activities) (You) get your kids to take a look at it (travel book) (you) take the kids punting at Cherwell Boathouse

(you) don’t miss out kids’ week (2) (you) find out more from the kids’ week website

(you) give your kids a taste of London theatre

(you) take the kids shopping

(you) take the kids to South Kensington

(you) take the kids on an unforgettable journey

(you) take your kids on a walk (you) treat the kids to an entertaining day

(you) treat the kids to beach sports activities (you) treat the kids to a day out (you) treat your kids to dinner (you) give the kids a treat (2) (you) teach your kids the value of money

(you) be prepared and wrap the kids with layers of clothes (you) blow some serious cash on your kids in Elias and Grace

Clashing identity constructions?

• Collectivized social actor (assimilated child actor in family group)

• (fake) agentive position (only for set phrases, rules, policies)

• Child is mostly a beneficiary agent and excluded as agentive participant

• Strong bonding attitudes of writer with parents

• Typification – stereotyping of the kids’ tastes and preferences

• Stereotypical (prejudicial) worries and concerns are addressed (created) and responded to on the part of the writer.

• Individualized social actor (whose preferences and wishes are tentatively dealt with – modality)

• Agency is not presented as choice (children can…) but as proved pleasurable experiences (my children loved…) that are evidenced

• General avoidance of bonding attitude of advisers towards advice seeking parent

• Avoidance of typification or stereotyping of the kids’ tastes and preferences

• Worries and concerns are mostly substituted for practical information not to be missed (never created)

Thank you for your attention