Would and face: discourse analysis of an English teacher during a pre-class observation session
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/2237-4876.2007v10n1p95Keywords:
Face. Would, class observation, Discourse analysis.Abstract
The concept of face (GOFFMAN, 2001) was used in this article to confirm the hypothesis that the use of would instead of going to by an English teacher during a pre-observation encounter serves to place her in the position of an outsider of her own lesson. By using would, according to Lewis (1998, p. 122), "the speaker perceives the situation as hypothetical at the moment of speaking". It is remote from the speaker and non-factual. Therefore, the teacher keeps the class at a distance in order not to lose her face.