The Discourse of Seduction and Intrigue: Linguistic Strategies in Three Fabliaux in the Canterbury Tales

Author / Editor
Pakkala-Weckström, Mari.

Title
The Discourse of Seduction and Intrigue: Linguistic Strategies in Three Fabliaux in the Canterbury Tales

Published
Journal of Historical Linguistics 3: 151-73, 2002.

Description
Examines "politeness strategies" (ye/thou) and emotional language in light of genre expectations and characterization. In MilT, MerT, and ShT, wives use various linguistic strategies to manipulate their husbands and others, but the linguistic consistency of the wife in ShT indicates social mastery from the outset; Alison and May may achieve such mastery through the events of their plots.

Chaucer Subjects
Language and Word Studies.
Miller and His Tale.
Merchant and His Tale.
Shipman and His Tale.