Impersonalization as a Mechanism of Impoliteness in Aeschines and Demosthenes

A Study of οὐδείς and μηδείς

Bibliographic Data

ID20054024
AuthorsRaquel Fornieles (corresponding author)
Year2021
Pages347-356
Publication date2021-01-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeCHAPTER
VenueSynchrony and Diachrony of Ancient Greek (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherDe Gruyter (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/9783110719192-027
OpenAlexW4213007835
ISBN9783110719192
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited10

Impersonalization as a Mechanism of Impoliteness in Aeschines andDemosthenes: A Study of οὐδείς and μηδείς Thank you, Emilio, for everything you have taught me  Introduction: Impersonalization in courtroom speeches 1Impersonalization, 2 a resource characterized by the absence or defocalization of the agent, is a communicative peculiarity of courtroom discourse.Greek orators use this linguistic mechanism for strategic purposes related to the goals of this discursive genre.The speaker, in search of a favorable verdict, constantly strives to please the jurors.The more objective his speech is -or seems to be -, the greater his chance of success. 3 Legal language fosters impersonality by its very nature, and such impersonality is inextricably linked to generalization. 4The presence of other generalization devices, as the adverb ἀεί in (1), is a clear proof of this:(1) Dem., De cor.192.Ἀλλὰ μὴν τὸ μὲν παρεληλυθὸς ἀεὶ παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀφεῖται, καὶ οὐδεὶς περὶ τούτου προτίθησιν οὐδαμοῦ βουλήν· And yet, people always put the past aside, and no one ever makes it a subject for debate. 5  1 This study has been written as part of research project PGC2018-093779-B-I00 (Verbal politeness and impoliteness in Ancient Greek literary dialogue) directed by Luz Conti and Emilio Cre

Epistemology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classical Philosophy and Thought · Philosophy · Psychology

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