NEWS & EVENTS
Appliable Linguistics Seminar 28
(Seminar on Language Science and System Science 94
Time: 15:40, 12 October 2016
Venue: #215, School of Foreign Languages
Speaker: Dr. David Caldwell
Title: The interpersonal voice: applying appraisal to the rap and sung voice
Abstract: Following in tradition of social semiotics (van Leeuwen 2005), this paper will analogize from the linguistic system of appraisal (Martin & White 2005) to the mode of sound, focusing specifically on the distinctive vocal sounds of the rap and sung performance voices. The paper will begin by introducing the data: contemporary rap artist Kanye West (see Caldwell 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014a, 2014b, for related analyses of West). The appraisal framework will then be introduced using examples from West’s rap lyrics. The remainder of the paper will examine the relationship between appraisal and the sounds of the human voice, presenting two potential methods of analysis. The first approach develops van Leeuwen’s (1999) experiential meaning potential by drawing on the grammatical frames used to classify the attitude sub-systems of affect, judgement and appreciation. The second approach is more general in scope and analogizes from the sound systems of melody, time and voice quality to the appraisal systems of attitude, engagement, and graduation respectively. Aside from contributing to the ongoing description of rap music and hip-hop culture, the aim of this paper is to present a systematic, principled method by which analysts can better identify interpersonal meaning in sound. By way of conclusion, potential connections to the field of forensic linguistics, and the themes of the Martin Centre more generally, will be flagged for discussion with the audience.
Bio of speaker: Dr David Caldwell is a Lecturer in English Language and Literacy in the School of Education. David completed his Bachelor of Teaching, Bachelor of Arts(Hons) and Master of Arts in linguistics at Deakin University (Melbourne), and his PhD in linguistics at the University of Sydney. He recently completed a two-year post in Singapore where he worked as an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education in the School of English Language and Literature. David is particularly interested in the application of Systemic Functional Linguistics to contemporary language contexts. These have included post-match interviews with AFL footballers, medical consultations with hospital patients, and Kanye West's rap music. He is currently investigating a range of language contexts, including literacy practices in the APY Lands, English wordings on t-shirts in South-East Asia, and the on-field language practices of sports people. David has over ten years’ experience teaching at a tertiary level, where he has taught a range of subjects in English language, literacy, and social linguistics. He has worked extensively training English language teachers for primary, secondary and tertiary level education in Australia and overseas. During his postgraduate studies, David taught in numerous primary school classrooms throughout Melbourne and Sydney. He also provides professional learning sessions in English language and literacy to teachers in South Australia.
