The chapter looks at identity features in Commencement Speeches (CS) delivered at graduation ceremonies in North American universities. CS exhibit specific identity traits in generic features, discourse structure and social role which identify them as a genre in its own right. One such feature is their inherent hybrid nature since, although being traditionally part of the academic cultural setting, they bring in relevant instances from the professional sphere reflecting the speakers' various professional experiences. Further, having become more widely available outside the university context, through the web, presently CS also play an important role in the identity building process of universities and speakers alike.

‘Giving the Graduates an Earful’: Identity and Interaction in Commencement Speeches

SOLLY, Martin
2014-01-01

Abstract

The chapter looks at identity features in Commencement Speeches (CS) delivered at graduation ceremonies in North American universities. CS exhibit specific identity traits in generic features, discourse structure and social role which identify them as a genre in its own right. One such feature is their inherent hybrid nature since, although being traditionally part of the academic cultural setting, they bring in relevant instances from the professional sphere reflecting the speakers' various professional experiences. Further, having become more widely available outside the university context, through the web, presently CS also play an important role in the identity building process of universities and speakers alike.
2014
Identities in and across Cultures
Peter Lang
Linguistic Insights
189
165
184
9783034314589
Martin Solly
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Solly 2014 Giving the Graduates an Earful.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: PDF EDITORIALE
Dimensione 645.04 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
645.04 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/147893
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact