Synopses & Reviews
Argumentative Indicators: A Pragma-Dialectical Study identifies and analyses English words and expressions that are crucial for an adequate reconstruction of argumentative discourse. It provides the analyst of argumentative discussions and texts with a systematic set of instruments for giving a well-founded analysis which results in an analytic overview of the elements that are relevant for the evaluation of the argumentation. In the book a systematic connection is made between linguistic insights into the characteristics of argumentative discourse and insights from argumentation theory into the resolution of differences of opinion by means of argumentation.
Review
From the reviews: "This book deals with argumentative indicators, which have so far not been dealt with in such detail within Pragma-Dialectics. ... All in all, then, 'Argumentative Indicators in Discourse' should become an indispensable part of the analytical tool kit of every argumentation scholar. ... I would like to state once more that van Eemeren et al. have made an important and extremely useful contribution to the study of argumentation, which will be greatly enhanced by this clear and well-founded overview about argumentative indicators in discourse." (Manfred Kienpointner, Argumentation, Vol. 24, March, 2010)
Synopsis
This volume identifies and analyses English words and expressions that are crucial for an adequate reconstruction of argumentative discourse. It provides a systematic set of instruments for giving a well founded analysis that results in an analytic overview of the elements that are relevant for the evaluation of the argumentation. By starting from everyday examples, the study immediately connects with the practice of argumentative discourse.
Table of Contents
Preface. 1. The identification of argumentative indicators. 1.1 Argumentative moves and argumentative indicators. 1.2 The pragma-dialectical approach to argumentative discourse. 1.3 Organisation of this study. 2. The ideal model of a critical discussion as a theoretical framework. 2.1 Dialectical stages in a critical discussion. 2.2 Pragmatic characterisation of argumentative moves as speech acts. 2.3 Dialectical profiles for pragmatic patterns of moves. 3. Indicators of confrontation. 3.1 Dialectical confrontation profiles. 3.2 Indicators of standpoints. 3.2.1 Tools for the identification of standpoints. 3.2.2 Propositional attitude indicating and force modifying expressions. 3.3 Indicators of disputes. 3.3.1 Doubt as an indicator of a single non-mixed dispute. 3.3.2 Indicators of a mixed dispute. 3.3.3 Indicators of a qualitative multiple dispute. 4. Indicators of the distribution of the burden of proof. 4.1 The distribution of the burden of proof. 4.2 Dialectical profiles for establishing the burden of proof. 4.3 Analysing the distribution of the burden of proof. 4.3.1 Indicators of a challenge to defend a standpoint. 4.3.2 Indicators of the acceptance of a one-sided burden of proof. 4.3.3 Indicators of refusing a one-sided burden of proof. 4.3.4 Indicators of sequence issues in a two-sided burden of proof. 5. Indicators of starting points for the discussion. 5.1 The identification of starting points. 5.2 Dialectical profile for establishing a starting point. 5.3 The analysis of establishing starting points. 5.3.1 Indicators of a proposal to accept a proposition as a starting point. 5.3.2 Indicators of responses to a proposal to accept a proposition as a starting point. 6. Indicators of argument schemes. 6.1 The use of argument schemes in a critical discussion. 6.2 Clues for analogy argumentation. 6.2.1 Dialectical profile for the analogy relationship. 6.2.2 Clues in the presentation of argumentation by comparison. 6.2.3 Indications in criticism of argumentation by comparison. 6.2.4 Indications in the follow-up of argumentation by comparison. 6.3 Indications for symptomatic argumentation. 6.3.1 Dialectical profile for the symptomatic relationship. 6.3.2 Indications in the presentation of symptomatic argumentation. 6.3.3 Clues in criticism of symptomatic argumentation. 6.3.4 Clues in the follow-up of symptomatic argumentation. 6.4 Indications for causal argumentation. 6.4.1 Dialectical profile for the causal relationship. 6.4.2 Clues in the presentation of causal argumentation. 6.4.3 Clues in criticism of causal argumentation. 6.4.4 Clues in the follow-up of causal argumentation. 6.5 Some complications. 7. Indicators of the argumentation structure. 7.1 Dialectical profiles for different types of complex argumentation. 7.2 Indications in the verbal presentation of arguments. 7.2.1 Univocal indications for a subordinative relationship. 7.2.2 Non-univocal indications for subordinative argumentation. 7.2.3 Univocal indications for multiplicity. 7.2.4 Non-univocal indications for multiple argumentation. 7.2.5 Univocal indications for a coordinative relationship. 7.2.6 Non-univocal indications for cumulatively coordinative argumentation. 7.2.7 Non-univocal indications for complementary coordinative argumentation. 7.3 Clues for the argumentation structure in criticism passed on arguments. 7.4 Some complications. 8. Indicators of the conclusion of a discussion. 8.1 Establishing the result of the discussion. 8.2 Dialectical profile for how the result of the discussion is established. 8.3 The protagonist maintains or withdraws his standpoint. 8.4 The antagonist maintains or withdraws his doubt. References