Proximization as reception

• Author: Grzegorz Kowalski
• Position: University of Warsaw
• Pages: 125-138

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşo v

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 11 (60) No. 1 - 2018

PROXIMIZATION AS RECEPTION

Grzegorz KOWALSKI1

Abstract: The paper presents a critical overview of proximization theory

(Chilton, 2004 ; Cap, 2006, 2013). I argue that the original model should be

extended to include proximization as interpreted by the audience. The paper

indicates some challenges to implementing the proximization-as-reception

component, related in particular to data sampling and identification of the

relevant markers. Using Web-based user-generated content is suggested as

a solution in the former case; a test case study is proposed to address the

second problem.

Key words: proximization, deixis, discourse space, public discourse, Critical

Discourse Studies.

1. Introduction

The paper presents a critical overview of proximization theory (Chilton, 2004; Cap e.g.

2006, 2010a, 2013, 2017), focusing on an aspect apparently absent in its original version.

In particular, I discuss the relevance of analyzing proximization-marked discourse from

the perspective of its actual audience. So far proximization theory has foregrounded the

speaker’s point of view, and the related research has generally concentrated on

identifying the speaker’s intentions behind specific pragmatic choices, in which case the

analyst positioned her-/himself as a recipient of the text analyzed. In the respective

sections of the paper I first present an outline of proximization theory (section 2),

followed with arguments for my proposal of including proximization from the audience’s

perspective in its general framework (section 3). In section 4 I point out some challenges

to its implementation in empirical research. I then suggest possible ways of solving these

problematic issues (section 5) and discuss the advanta ges of the combined

proximization-as-production and proximization-as-reception model, along with a few

authentic examples illustrating the phenomena d iscussed (section 6). In the conclusions

I outline a case study using this integrative approach which I currently prepare.

2. Proximization Theory: An Outline

Proximization theory was introduced in Critical Discourse Studies by Piotr Cap (2006;

2010a, b; 2013; 2014; 2015; 2017), w ith early considerations on the concept proposed

by Paul Chilton (2004) in his Discourse (a.k.a. Deictic) Space Theory (see also

1 University of Warsaw, g.kowalski@uw.edu.pl