Monographic Lecture: The Speaking Subject as a Feeling Subject—Emotions in Language and Discourse 3304-2DXW-WM-003
The aim of this lecture is to familiarize students with linguistic tools for describing emotions and to reflect together on the place and role of emotions in contemporary culture—in everyday interactions and public discourse. Linguistic research on emotions, whether within specific cultures or from a cross-cultural perspective, has been developing since the 1980s and 1990s. It encompasses both the description of linguistic markers of emotion from the perspectives of lexicology, grammar, and prosody, as well as the analysis of utterances referring to emotion from the perspectives of pragmatics, discourse analysis, and rhetoric.
The lecture focuses on research and research material from the French-speaking cultural sphere and addresses such issues as:
- conceptualization and categorization of emotions in language (general categories: “emotion,” “feeling,” “affect”; the lexical field of emotions);
- universal vs. cultural: the cultural shaping of concepts related to emotions, cultural patterns of experiencing and communicating emotions;
- indicators of emotion: verbal (vocabulary, syntax, etc.), paraverbal/prosodic (intonation, volume, etc.), nonverbal (gestures and facial expressions);
- influencing the recipient’s emotions (rhetorical pathos);
- functions of emotions in communication: expressive (self-expression), phatic (relationship-building), persuasive (exerting influence);
- emotions in selected discourse genres (political discourse, therapeutic discourse…);
- contemporary representations of emotions in public discourse: fear, hatred, anger, resentment, empathy, gratitude… (selection to be agreed upon with course participants).
The course takes the form of a seminar-style lecture, which allows for discussion with participants and joint analysis of real-world examples.
Workload:
- Classwork during contact hours: 1 ECTS (15 x 2 hours = 30 hours)
- independent study—preparation for final exams: 1 ECTS (2 x 15 hours = 30 hours)
- independent study—ongoing preparation for classes: 1 ECTS (12 x 2–2.5 hours = 24–30 hours)
Total: 3 ECTS (84–90 hours)
1 ECTS = 25–30 instructional hours (45 min.)
Rules for using artificial intelligence (AI) tools:
The rules set forth in Resolution No. 42 of the Teaching Council for the Romanic Philology program, dated April 15, 2024, apply.
(Link to the resolution: https://romanistyka.wn.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/RD_uchwala_42_15-kwietnia-2024_wytyczne_SI_ZALACZNIK_1.pdf)
Course coordinators
Mode
Learning outcomes
Knowledge – the student knows and understands:
- in depth, the role of research on emotions in linguistics (K_W01)
- in depth, the approaches, methods, and main issues in linguistic research on emotions, particularly in the French-speaking cultural sphere (K_W04, K_W06)
- in depth, the terminology in the fields of lexicology, grammar, phonetics, and discourse analysis necessary for research on emotions (K_W02)
- in depth, the principles of linguistic analysis of emotions in various discourse genres, including verbal interaction (K_W09)
- contemporary processes in the communication of emotions, particularly in the French-speaking cultural sphere (K_W03)
Skills – the student is able to:
- independently acquire additional knowledge on topics covered during the course, using various sources (K_U03)
- analyze and interpret the mechanisms of emotional construction in various discourse genres, using appropriate terminology and research methods (K_U05)
Social Competencies – the student is prepared to:
- be open to different cultural patterns of emotional communication (K_K03)
Assessment criteria
Teaching methods: lecture-seminar, discussion, analysis of examples.
Methods for assessing learning outcomes:
- two written tests. The tests consist of multiple-choice and open-ended questions on theoretical issues and the analysis of utterances using the linguistic tools covered in class (outcomes: K_W01, K_W02, K_W04, K_W06, K_W09, K_U03, K_U05).
- Participation in discussions. Class participation is not graded (formative assessment) (learning outcomes: K_W02, K_W03, K_W09, K_U03, K_U05).
Course Completion Requirements:
Students must receive passing grades on two written exams—a midterm and a final exam. The passing threshold for each exam is 60%. The final grade is the average of the grades from both exams.
Absence limit:
Up to 2 absences are permitted. Exceeding the absence limit without a valid excuse will require the completion of additional assignments (exercises, presentations, etc.—depending on the number of absences). Attendance at a minimum of 70% of classes is required to pass the course.
Bibliography
Literatura podstawowa
Baider, F., Cislaru, G. (éds) (2013), Cartographie des émotions, Paris : Presses Sorbonne Nouvelle (https://doi.org/10.4000/books.psn.2358, dostęp 4.05.2026).
Embarki, M., Pillot-Loiseau, Cl. (dir.) (2024), Langages, n° 234 : Voix et émotions, (https://shs.cairn.info/revue-langages-2024-2?lang=fr, dostęp 4.05.2026).
Kerbrat-Orecchioni, C. (2009), L’Énonciation. De la subjectivité dans le langage, chap. II, section 2 : Les subjectivèmes « affectif » et « évaluatif », Paris : Armand Colin, pp. 79-134.
Krzyżanowska, A. (2011), Aspects lexicaux et sémantiques de la description des noms d’affect en français et en polonais, Lublin: Wyd. UMCS.
Krzyżanowska, A., Wołowska, K. (dir.) (2016), Les émotions et les valeurs dans la communication, t. I et II, Frankfurt am Main : Peter Lang.
Micheli, R. (2014), Les émotions dans le discours, Bruxelles–Paris: De Boeck – Duculot.
Plantin, Ch. (2011), Les bonnes raisons des émotions, Berne: Peter Lang.
Plantin, Ch., Doury, M., Traverso, V. (dir.) (2000), Les Émotions dans les interactions, Lyon : Les Presses Universitaires de Lyon (https://www.persee.fr/issue/epc_1243-1052_2000_ant_1_1, dostęp: 4.05.2026).
Rinn, M. (dir.) (2008), Émotions et discours. L’usage des passions dans la langue, Rennes : Presses universitaires de Rennes.
Romero, Cl. (2017), L’intensité et son expression en français, Paris : Ophrys.
Literatura kontekstowa
Hochschild, A.R. (2003), Travail émotionnel, règles de sentiments et structure sociale, Travailler n° 9, pp. 19-49 (https://doi.org/10.3917/trav.009.0019, dostęp: 4.05.2026).
Hochschild A.R. (2009), Zarządzanie emocjami. Komercjalizacja ludzkich uczuć, tłum. J. Konieczny, Warszawa: WN PWN.
Illouz, E. (2010), Uczucia w dobie kapitalizmu, tłum. Z. Simbierowicz, Warszawa: Oficyna Naukowa.
Illouz, E. (2025), Emocjonalne życie populizmu. Jak strach, odraza, resentyment i miłość osłabiają demokrację, tłum. P. Świerczek, Warszawa: Instytut Narutowicza [Lepiej sięgnąć do oryginału: The Emotional Life of Populism. How Fear, Disgust, Resentment and Love Undermine Democracy].
Illouz, E. (2026), Le futur des émotions. Comment la technologie et le capitalisme exploitent notre subjectivité, Paris : Gallimard.
Le Bart, Ch. (2018), Les émotions du pouvoir. Larmes, rires, colères des politiques, Paris : Armand Colin.
Rajtar, M., Straczuk, J. (red.) (2012), Emocje w kulturze, Warszawa: WUW.
Vigarello, G., Corbin, A., Courtine, J.-J. (2016, 2017), Histoire des émotions, t. 1-3, Paris : Le Seuil.
Podcast: « Le Cours de l’histoire », série : « Histoire des sensibilités », Radio France, https://www.radiofrance.fr/franceculture/podcasts/serie-histoire-des-sensibilites2 (dostęp: 4.05.2026).