AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 171 Agata Križan The persuasive mechanism of monoglossic propositions in advertisments 1 Introduction As a genre, advertising is generally characterized by its persuasive and communicative rhetoric, i.e. it uses language and strategies effectively as a means of “structured” and “paid nonpersonal communication” to influence or persuade the potential consumer to buy the product (Wells et al., 2000, 6; Arens et al., 2008, 7). Persuasive rhetoric has its origins in Aristotle’s rhetorical theory; according to Barnes (1984), advertise- ments utilize three modes of persuasion: ethos (the appeal to one’s character), pathos (the appeal to emotion) and logos (the appeal to reason). As illustrated in the paper, it is the evaluative nature of appraisals in seemingly factual monoglossic propositions that helps realise those appeals, in particular pathos. Perloff (2010) and Jefkins and Yadin (2000, 13-15) define advertising persuasion in terms of changing and influenc- ing the consumer’s attitudes or behaviour. This is principally achieved through the social values, norms and attitudes that they mirror and shape (White, 2000; Vester- gaard, Schroder, 1985). The social activity of advertisements, as of most genre types, is managed particularly through interpersonal meanings1, which closely pertain to the persuasive rhetoric, since their realization reflects the participants’ (advertiser vs advertisee) interaction, their mutual influence, the construction and fulfilment of so- cial roles, the adoption of attitudinal positions, and the establishment of relationships (White, 2000). One of the linguistic tools that realizes the interpersonal function is the appraisal, defined as “one of three major discourse-semantic resources for construing interper- sonal meaning” (Martin, White, 2005). In the appraisal model, all utterances (verbal and print) are considered “dialogic”, i.e. they refer to, respond to, affirm or stay neutral toward value judgements: they also anticipate the possible responses of an actual and imagined reader, and so on (Martin, White, 2005, 92). Such a view is based on Bakhtin (1981, 281), who states that all utterances exist “... against backdrop of other concrete utterances on the same theme, a background made up of contradictory opinions, 1 In systemic functional linguistics, each text/clause expresses ideational, interpersonal and textual meanings simultaneously, each one realised with particular lexico-grammatical resources chosen from the language system (Halliday, 1994). DOI:10.4312/ars.14.1.171-185 AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 171 29. 06. 2020 09:22:07 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 172 points of view and value judgements... pregnant with responses and objections”. Bare assertions are therefore not seen as simply neutral or factual, but as “undialogised” or “monoglossic” (ibid. 427). In the appraisal system, the lexical and grammatical locutions that signal autho- rial value positions are captured in the category of engagement, with a division made between the heteroglossic and monoglossic propositions. The use of engagement ele- ments defines a proposition as heteroglossic, whereas the absence of such elements defines it as monoglossic. While the intersubjective2 and thus the interactive nature of monoglossic propo- sitions may be diminished through non-authorial intervention, the paper illustrates that the intersubjective value of monoglossic propositions in advertisements is in fact heightened by the use of appraisal language, which may help instil a particular ideol- ogy3 in society, hence acting persuasively. As Thompson (2004, 76) rightly states, ap- praisal choices are seen as to “reflect and reinforce the ideological values of the culture”. 2 Monoglossic and heteroglossic propositions As mentioned above, the division between monogloss and heterogloss depends on whether the author4 signals (or not) their position and presence through engagement elements (e.g. not, despite, of course, the fact is, perhaps, according to) (Martin, White, 2005, 94-98). While heteroglossic propositions are always angled at some other point of view in a text by using engagement elements, (White, 1998), monoglossic assertions are usually expressed categorically, often sounding descriptive and objective, hence intersubjectively neutral, i.e. knowledge and information are presented as commonly accepted and acknowledged, with no need to argue for them (e.g. monoglossic: The data were collected over a period of six months; heteroglossic: Although the data were collected over a period of six months, they do not provide enough evidence). Monoglossic propositions in advertising have not yet been researched systemati- cally in terms of their evaluative, hence persuasive potential, and a similar situation exists in other genre texts, where monoglossic propositions are not the main and only 2 The expressions intersubjective and interpersonal are used interchangeably in the paper to denote “relations constructed in and through the interactions between individuals and may thus be consi- dered as an interactional phenomenon” (Rommetveit, 1976 in Stevanović, Koski, 2018, 42). In other words, both expressions are used to convey relations or involvement in relations between persons. In advertising, the relations meant are those between advertisers (manufacturers) and advertisees (potential consumers). 3 In the literature there are many similar definitions of ideology. According to van Dijk (2006, 116), “ideologies… are primarily some kind of ‘ideas’, that is, belief systems”, which “…are socially shared by the members of a collectivity of social actors”. By the same token, ideology is recognized “as a system of ideas, beliefs, ideals and principles that guide the social, cultural, political and economic functioning of a society” (Harvey, 2012-2019). 4 In this paper, the terms ‘author’ and ‘writer’ are used interchangeably to denote the person/s who cre- ated the advertising text. AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 172 29. 06. 2020 09:22:07 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 173 focus of research but are studied with other categories of the appraisal system, with an increased focus on heteroglossic propositions. This may not be surprising, as it is heteroglossic propositions which are considered to be more rhetorically engaging, i.e. more interactive and interpersonal through authorial intervention (Hood, Forey, 2005, 296), and this is particularly true of academic discourse (e.g. Chatterjee, 2008; Fryer, 2015; Vega Garrido, 2017; Sheldon, 2018). Apart from academic discourse, engage- ment has also been explored in political discourse (e.g. White, Sano, 2006; Kozubíková Šandová, 2015; Plemenitaš, Krajnc, 2019), social media (e.g. Trevisan, 2018), educa- tional discourse (e.g. Chang, 2019), argumentative discourse (e.g. Miller et al., 2014), and media texts (White, 1998; Ertyas 2011). For example, by comparing the dialogic positioning of the British and Japanese prime ministers, White and Sano (2006, 209) made a distinction between monoglossed informational/experiential propositions and monoglossed evaluative ones. Moreover, monoglossic and heteroglossic propositions have been also studied in the visual mode of texts or as part of multimodal texts (e.g. Economou, 2009; Le, 2012). A detailed analysis of monoglossic propositions in argumentative essays carried out by Lee (2017) shows that successful writing utilizes the ‘presuppose’ monogloss to a greater extent than other types of monogloss. Furthermore, Beangstrom and Aden- dorff ’s (2013) analysis of monoglossic/heteroglossic propositions in real estate adver- tisements points out a lack of heteroglossic propositions, leaving no space for argu- ments from (potential) buyers. 3 Appraisal system The appraisal system is “... concerned with evaluation: the kinds of attitudes that are negotiated in a text, the strength of the feelings involved and the ways which values are sourced and readers aligned” (Martin, Rose, 2003, 22). It distinguishes between three main categories, namely, attitude, graduation and engagement. Regarding atti- tude, writers adopt subjective positions as affect (language conveying feelings), judge- ment (language evaluating human behaviour) and/or appreciation (language evaluat- ing things) (ibid. 43-53). Regarding graduation, writers intensify or downgrade a given attitude as force (e.g. very easy) or focus (e.g. true friend) (ibid. 137), while with en- gagement writers manage and negotiate intersubjective positions. As three attitudinal sub-categories, affect is concerned with language that conveys feelings of un/happiness (e.g. cheerful), dis/satisfaction (e.g. impressed), dis/inclination (e.g. fearful), or in/secu- rity (e.g. anxious), judgement with language that deals with values of normality (how special one is, e.g. charmed), capacity (how capable one is, e.g. expert), tenacity (how dependable one is, e.g. flexible), veracity (honesty, e.g. frank), and propriety (ethics, e.g. modest), and appreciation with language that deals with values of reaction (appeal AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 173 29. 06. 2020 09:22:07 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 174 to emotions, e.g. amazing), composition (proportionality and detail, e.g. balanced) and valuation (social significance, e.g. worthwhile). Attitudes can have a positive or negative valence, and can be expressed explic- itly5or implicitly6. While explicit attitudes are encoded primarily in attitudinal lexis, expressions of implicit attitudes use no such lexis and are frequently co(n)textually bound. Thus, in the proposition They are kind and caring, the positive attitudes of judgement are lexically encoded explicitly in kind and caring, both grammatically real- ized as attributes in the relational clause. In the proposition The company built a new house for the family who lost everything in a fire, the positive attitude of judgement tar- geting the company is implicitly expressed on the basis of a culturally bound context in which those who help people in need are evaluated as caring and kind. The identification of attitudes in advertising texts7 is often context dependent due to the use of creative language (e.g. metaphors, word puns, ellipsis) and their brevity, which requires an attitudinal “double-coding”8 and often results in a multiplicity of attitudes within the same proposition or around the same lexical instance (see Križan, 2016a, Križan, 2016b). 4 Methodology of analysis For the analysis, 200 advertisements were first selected randomly from various British magazines primarily addressing a female readership (99 from Marie Claire, 22 from Red, 13 from She, 14 from New Woman, 16 from Grazia, 23 from Eve, 3 from Vanity Fair, and 10 from Real). Of these advertisements, 42 advertise health products, 104 beauty products, and 54 products for the home. Due to the nature of typically female product advertising (e.g. beauty products), it was anticipated not only that appraisals would feature extensively, but also that they would help create and transmit certain values, norms and stereotypes, such as, for example, beauty and youth ideals to which women are expected to conform. In order to establish the impact of magazine choice on the results in this study, a systematic analysis of the appraisals in advertisements from magazines addressing a primarily male readership is needed. The analysis focuses only on the textual section of an advertisement, encompass- ing the headline, slogan (if given and if written close to the main body of text) as well as the main body of the text. All of these sections have been put into the form of a connected text following the natural order of reading the text from left to right and 5 The expressions direct, inscribe and overt are also used interchangeably in literature as well as in the paper. 6 The expressions indirect, evoke and covert are also used interchangeably in literature as well as in the paper. 7 In the paper, the expression ‘advertising text’ refers to all written material in a print advertisement. 8 Coding one instance as two or more (same or different) appraisal categories (Martin, White, 2005, 67). AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 174 29. 06. 2020 09:22:07 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 175 top to bottom, starting with the headline. The length of advertising text varies from 45 to 200 words per advertisement, making a corpus of approximately 15,500 words. The advertising texts were parsed into sentences9 and coded as monoglossic or heteroglos- sic propositions based on the inclusion/exclusion of engagement elements (Martin, White, 2005). The average frequency of occurrence for monoglossic and heteroglossic propositions was then calculated manually by using the arithmetic means formula10. In this paper, the results of the average frequency of occurrence of monoglossic propo- sitions are provided, as well as the selected monoglossic propositions to exemplify their types and present their evaluative potential as an intersubjective, hence persua- sive, value within the appraisal system (ibid.). In the analysis, the following marking system is used: inscribed attitudes (bold); graders (italics); and inscribed attitudes+graded (bold+italics). 5 Results of analysis Table 1 presents the frequency of the occurrence of monoglossic and heteroglossic propositions in the sample advertisements11. Table1: The ratio of monoglossic and heteroglossic propositions in 200 advertisements Number of propositions (n = 1119) Monoglossic propositions 429 (39%) Heteroglossic propositions 690 (61%) Table 1 shows the prevalence of heteroglossic propositions over monoglossic prop- ositions in advertising texts, which indicates that the authorial persona is actively engaged with dialogic alternatives by opposing, rejecting, contradicting or acknowl- edging them. Even though the authors frequently overtly signal their presence in propositions through the use of engagement elements, the number of monoglossic propositions indicates that much of the content is presented by a single-voice, allow- ing for no further dialogic negotiation, which may be perceived as a less intersubjec- tive activity. However, as the analysis reveals, monoglossic propositions are largely permeated with explicit and implicit attitudes, hence strengthening their interper- sonal activity despite their non-dialogic ‘passivity’, and with this the attempt to in- fluence. The results of the chi-square test (χ2) for the monoglossic and heteroglossic 9 Slogans and headlines that appeared as phrases were considered as individual sentences. 10 11 The data were collected within the framework of my unpublished PhD thesis The Language of British Advertisements: Social and Cultural Aspects of the Appraisal Model (2015). n XM Σ= AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 175 29. 06. 2020 09:22:07 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 176 propositions show that there is a significant difference between the expected and ob- served propositions (χ2 = 60.86; fe = 559.5; p = 0.001 (10.83); df = 1; p ≤ χ2).With this, the null hypothesis that the frequency of occurrence of monoglossic and heteroglos- sic propositions is equal is rejected. Furthermore, the analysis shows that the array of monoglossic propositions in advertisements encompasses what I term: a) non-attitudinal commands, b) attitudinal commands, c) attitude-inscribed statements, d) graduation-triggered attitudinal statements. 5 1 Non-attitudinal commands Monoglossic propositions in advertisements are typically expressed with a command, grammatically realized by an imperative, which “neither references nor allows for the possibility of alternative actions” (Martin, White, 2005, 111). These commands do not express any attitudes, as exemplified in (1). (1) Imagine. (Marie Claire, April, 2008) 5 2 Attitudinal commands This type of monoglossic proposition includes commands which are also realized lin- guistically with an imperative as non-attitudinal commands, but express attitudes ex- plicitly or/and implicitly. Commands expressing one attitude occur rarely, as shown in the seemingly attitudinally neutral command in (2), where the manufacturer’s sugges- tion of a joint solution to the problem (to break the problematic circle of sleeplessness) may evoke an attitude of positive judgment: a capability targeting both the manufac- turer and the potential consumer. This in turn thus motivates the potential consumer not just to continue reading the advertisement, but also to act. (2) Let’s break the circle. (She, January, 2005) The majority of such commands, however, express more than one attitude explicitly and/or implicitly, depending on the context, co-text and grading elements, as shown in examples (3-12). (3) …simply massage nature’s famous stress-buster onto the back of your neck, temples and earlobes. (New Woman, October, 2004) (4) Lick the lid of life. (Marie Claire, July, 2007) AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 176 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 177 (5) Just think of it as a bridge back to a normal sleeping pattern. (She, Janu- ary, 2005) (6) Just look for the green banner. (Marie Claire, August, 2005) (7) Find out how dry your skin is using the moisture test strips featured at the bottom of the page. (Red, November, 2006) In (3), the command expresses only explicit positive appreciation: reaction (simply) and valuation (nature’s, famous, stress-buster). In (4), all of the attitudes are implicit positive appreciation: valuation (lid of life), which metaphorically refers to the prod- uct’s quality of being healthy, and reaction (lick the lid of life), where the licking coupled with the lid of life signifies the product’s delicious taste. In most cases, however, commands express both explicit and implicit attitudes, as in (5) and (6). In (5), the grader just evokes a positive attitude of appreciation: reaction emphasizing the value of simplicity, and the metaphorical bridge back to12 inscribes a positive attitude of appreciation: valuation as a synonym for solution. Similarly, in (6) there is a positive attitude of appreciation: reaction foregrounding the value of simplic- ity is evoked via the grader just, and the metaphorical green banner inscribes a positive attitude of appreciation: valuation as a symbol for environmental awareness. Besides a negative attitude (appreciation: composition) inscribed lexically in dry in (7), targeting the potential consumer’s skin, the advertiser’s role as a friend helping the potential consumer by making the testing strips available to them additionally evokes a positive attitude of judgement: propriety targeting the advertiser. Moreover, by categorically referring to the level of skin dryness, hence not questioning the exist- ence of the potential consumer’s dry skin, the advertiser’s familiarity with the potential consumer’s problem evokes a positive attitude of judgement: capability targeting the manufacturer. The potential consumer’s lack of awareness of the problem (having dry skin) further evokes a negative attitude of judgement: capability. (8) Try the nation’s favourite. (Marie Claire, July, 2008) (9) Every night, remove your make-up with an expert.(Marie Claire, July, 2007) (10) Choose from a black/chrome or the revolutionary new satin steel finish that is resistant to finger marking. (Red, November, 2006) (11) Look up to 5 years younger in a flash. (Eve, February, 2005) (12) Look and feel fabulous this summer with the stunning new Bronzing & Illuminating collection from […]13. (Marie Claire, January, 2007) 12 When reformulating the phrase bridge back to normal into, for example, establishes/d normal sleeping pattern, the inscribed attitude can easily be identified in normal. 13 Brand names and names of products are omitted to avoid recognition. AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 177 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 178 Commands in (8-12) inscribe positive attitudes lexically in favourite (likeability = affect:), expert (appreciation), revolutionary, new, satin and resistant (appreciation), younger and in a flash (appreciation), fabulous (appreciation/affect), stunning and new (appreciation) targeting mainly the product in terms of its characteristics, beneficial performance and effect. Besides inscribing attitudes, these commands also evoke them. In (8), the inscribed attitude which is paired with the quantifier (nation) invites the potential consumer to try the widely-consumed product, hence evoking positive appreciation: valuation. In (9), the quantifier every night evokes positive appreciation: valuation towards a make- up cleansing routine, hence prescribing regular cleansing as a society norm. In the same command, the value of expertise is emphasized via the inscription (expert). In (10), the positive judgement: propriety is evoked on the basis of the advertiser’s caring attempt to meet the potential consumer’s individual needs (the possibility of choos- ing). In (11), the implication of insufficient youthfulness in the potential consumer via comparison evokes negative appreciation: reaction, whereby youth is introduced as an important value. In (12), the intensifying grader as a repetition of commands (look and feel) and qualities (stunning new) triggers positive appreciation: valuation targeting the product’s efficiency and benefits. Some commands evoke an attitude solely with the use of graduation, as in (13), where the quantifying grader 4 to 6 weeks evokes positive appreciation: valuation tar- geting the product, hence emphasizing the value of the rapid results to which modern society aspires. (13) See results in 4 to 6 weeks. (Marie Claire, April, 2008) 5 3 Attitude-inscribed statements As illustrated above, even though commands, as monoglossic propositions, occur fre- quently, the prevailing attitudinal monoglossic propositions are statements. Examples (14-16) show only inscribed attitudes, which are all positive appreciation, targeting the news and the product, grammatically realized as epithets (good, beautiful) and an attribute in a relational elliptical clause (new). (14) That’s the good news. (Marie Claire, April, 2007) (15) It’s a beautiful thing.14 (Marie Claire, July, 2007) 14 Such monoglossic propositions are classifed as ‘asserts’ in Lee’s (2006) tripartite system of monoglos- sic propositions encompassing presupposition, fact and assert. For the purposes of this research, the division into monoglossic and heteroglossic propositions is sufficient, as the analysis focuses on the kinds of monoglossic propositions in terms of their evaluative properties as part of advertising persuasive agenda. AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 178 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 179 (16) New. 15 (Marie Claire, August, 2005) Within the advertising context and based on the meaning of the idiom16 (cheap17 al- ready inscribes an attitude of appreciation) in (17), the seemingly factual statement may evoke negative veracity, targeting other manufacturers’ misleading promises about their products, whereas the manufacturers of the advertised product act to help. (17) Talk is cheap. (She, January, 2005) 5 4 Graduation-triggered attitudinal statements The analysis shows that statements may use graduation not only to grade inscribed at- titudes but also to evoke attitudes. All the examples below (18-23) inscribe at least one attitude, already intensified through infusion (mad, unique, leading) or/and comparison (the best). Additionally, other forms of grading with inscribed attitudes, such as the iso- lated comparison as…as in (21), the amount quantifier all in (22), and repetition in (23) can be found. In (20), the intensified positive appreciation unique targets the product through the matchless quality of its ingredient, thus also evoking negative appreciation of valuation targeting competing products. In (21), the simplicity of the solution to the problem (getting relief) inscribes positive appreciation: valuation targeting the product’s performance, and the simplicity of the action inscribes positive appreciation: reaction targeting the act itself. In (22), the quantifier all not only upgrades the already intensified attitude of appreciation: valuation targeting supermarkets and pharmacies (leading), but also evokes positive valuation targeting the product’s exclusivity by being sold only in the best locations, hence emphasizing exclusivity as an important value. In (23), the listing of three benefits in the same clause upgrades positive appreciation targeting the product, hence intensifying the value of the product’s efficiency. (18) A sane snack in a mad world. (Marie Claire, July, 2007) (19) Attack is the best form of defence. (Red, November, 2006) (20) The unique ingredient. (She, January, 2005) (21) It’s as simple as […]. (New Woman, October, 2004) (22) … is available in all leading supermarkets and pharmacies. (Marie Claire, July, 2007) (23) Easy, quick and effective. (Marie Claire, July, 2007) 15 In advertisements, due to the creative language, it frequently occurs that a monoglossic elliptical prop- osition consists of only one word, which is often evaluative. 16 Talk is cheap means that it is easier to talk about something than actually do it, which makes it difficult to believe that person. 17 Although clearly evaluative, the status of cheap varies depending on the context (e.g. a cheap product may inscribe a positive attitude). AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 179 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 180 As already mentioned, graduation does not occur only with inscriptions but may also evoke attitudes. In (24), the specificity18 grader allergy specifies the kind of test- ing carried out by the manufacturer, hence evoking positive tenacity/propriety tar- geting them with regard to their cautious approach towards the potential consumer’s safety. This also simultaneously implies a caring attitude on the part of the manufac- turer. In (25), the quantifier of amount all helps evoke the negative judgement of ve- racity targeting competing manufacturers in terms of their misleading approach. In (26), the intensifier realized as a comparison less than evokes positive appreciation: valuation targeting the product’s characteristic of using less fat, which is healthier, negative appreciation: valuation targeting the fat itself as a potentially unhealthy ingredient, as well as negative appreciation: valuation targeting competing products on the basis of their less healthy fat content. (24) Allergy Tested. (Marie Claire, July, 2007) (25) They’re all retouched! (Marie Claire, July, 2007) (26) Less than 10% fat. (Marie Claire, July, 2007) As well as the use of one grader, statements also use multiple graders with the attitude-evoking potential. For example, although in (27) no direct attitudes are expressed, the quantifying graders day 1, instantly, reduced and up to 36% evoke positive appreciation: reaction and valuation targeting the product in terms of its rapid effect and wide range of benefits (length, depth and a number of reduced lines and wrinkles). Additionally, the reduction of lines and wrinkles evokes negative appreciation: valuation towards these two concepts, introducing them as undesir- able in society and thus emphasizing the value of a youthful appearance. Moreover, wrinkle and line reduction evokes positive appreciation: composition targeting the skin structure as a result of the product’s use. By the same token, in (28) the quan- tifier 7 and the intensifier realized as the comparison different evoke positive ap- preciation: valuation targeting the product in terms of its versatile capabilities, as well as positive judgement: capability targeting the manufacturer in terms of their innovative approach. (27) Day 1 Instantly, the length, depth and number of lines and wrinkles look reduced up to 36%. (Marie Claire, August, 2005) (28) Oven includes 7 different functions. (Red, November, 2006) 18 According to Hood’s (2004) extention of graduation in the appraisal model, specificity is one of the graders to grade the attitudes in focus on the basis of what is more or less specific. Since allergy testing can be reformulated into, for example, testing specifically for an allergy, allergy could be identified as a specificity grader. AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 180 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 181 As illustrated above, the multiplicity of attitudes evoked solely through graders is not a rare occurrence in monoglossic advertising statements. However, a more frequent attitude-evoking feature is the use of graders paired with attitudinal inscriptions, such as in (29), where the specificity graders scientific (also attitudinally inscribed) and the product’s name, as well as the infused intensification in rigorous paired with the posi- tive attitudinal inscriptions checks and balances (repetition) evoke positive judgement of capability, tenacity and propriety targeting the manufacturer in terms of their pro- fessional and cautious approach, and concern for the potential consumer’s safety. By the same token, in (30) and (31) inscriptions of positive appreciation: valua- tion encoded lexically in enriched, key, and technology target the product in terms of its beneficial performance and characteristics. Furthermore, in the same monoglos- sic statements, graders of repetition via the listing of the two valuable substances Biotin and Vitamin C evoke positive appreciation of valuation targeting the product in terms of its health-enhancing characteristics, while the specificity grader Lacre- on evokes positive judgement of capability targeting the manufacturer in terms of their innovative approach based on the special technology with which the product is made. Additionally, the quantifying grader of extent throughout the day, the quan- tifying grader of amount vitamins, and the listing of the product’s beneficial perfor- mance characteristics (retains, stays in) evoke three attitudes of positive apprecia- tion: valuation targeting the product in terms of its effectiveness, lasting efficiency and healthy, vitamin rich content. (29) … use a scientific manufacturing process with rigorous checks and bal- ances. (Marie Claire, October, 2004) (30) … enriched with key vitamins including Biotin and Vitamin C … (Real, May, 2005) (31) They are made with LACREON technology containing an ingredient that retains moisture and stays in the lens throughout the day. (Marie Claire, August, 2005) 6 Conclusion The paper illustrates that monoglossic propositions in advertising texts, despite their often neutral non-engaging expression, are nevertheless frequently interpersonally (and hence interactively) charged by using appraisal language, which creates evalu- ative meanings explicitly or implicitly through and around the advertised product/ service). On the basis of the interplay of certain appraisal categories, context and co-text, with the (in)visible values, norms and beliefs that they carry and transmit to potential consumers, these attitudes may be recognized as important contributors to the persuasive rhetoric of advertisements. The analysis of appraisals in monoglossic AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 181 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 182 propositions with the application of Martin and White’s appraisal model (2005) shows that advertisements express monoglossic propositions as non-attitudinal commands, attitudinal commands, attitude-inscribed statements, and graduation- triggered attitudinal statements. Moreover, as shown in the results, context and graders are indispensable to the identification of attitudes in monoglossic proposi- tions, often producing a cluster of attitudes, which makes even at first glance attitu- dinally empty monoglossic propositions evaluative, hence interactive and socially- dynamic. 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AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 183 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 184 Sources Marie Claire (October, 2004, p.407; August, 2005, pp.14, 37, 281; January, 2007, p.115; April, 2007, p.85; July, 2007, pp. 283, 262, 25, 183, 155, 275, 190, 183, 155; April, 2008, p.15) She (January, 2005, pp.56, 120, 43) New Woman (October, 2004, pp.199, 216) Red (November, 2006, pp.275, 201, 301, 201) Eve (June, 2004, p.41) Real (May, 2005, p.6) Agata Križan The persuasive mechanism of monoglossic propositions in advertisments Keywords: advertisements, monoglossic propositions, appraisal, persuasion, in- terpersonal Bakhtin (1981, 427) does not regard bare assertions as simply neutral or factual, but as “un- dialogised” or “monoglossic”, and as such still not “free from subjective presencing of the speaker” (Thibault, 1997, 53). Based on such a view, in appraisal theory, monoglossic and heteroglossic propositions are defined as two discursive interpersonal choices for signalling the absence or presence of other voices within the category of engagement (Martin, White, 2005). Even though monoglossic propositions in advertisements apparently diminish their interpersonal and subjective value through undialogised positioning due to the absence of engagement elements, this value is nevertheless commonly increased by the highly evaluative nature of advertisements, which is often permeated by ideology. The paper identifies types of monoglossic propositions and investigates their evaluative charge in advertisements, which may contribute significantly to the overall persuasive rhetoric of advertisements, within the appraisal system (Martin, White, 2005). Agata Križan Prepričevalni mehanizem enoglasnih izjav v reklamnih oglasih Ključne besede: reklamni oglasi, enoglasne izjave, jezik vrednotenja, prepričevanje, medosebno Bakhtin (1981, 427) golih trditev nima za preprosto nevtralne ali dejstvene, pač pa za »nedialo- gizirane« ali »enoglasne« in kot takšne še vedno neosvobojene subjektivne prisotnosti govorca (Thibault, 1997, 53). Na podlagi tega so v teoriji jezika vrednotenja enoglasne in mnogoglasne AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 184 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08 AgAtA KrižAn / the persuAsive mechAnism of monoglossic propositions in Advertisments 185 izjave opredeljene kot dve diskurzni medosebni izbiri, ki pokažeta odsotnost ali prisotnost drugih glasov znotraj kategorije vključenosti (Martin, White, 2005). Čeprav enoglasne izjave v reklamnih oglasih očitno zmanjšajo svojo medosebno in subjektivno vrednost skozi nedi- alogiziran položaj zaradi odsotnosti elementov vključenosti, je ta vrednost kljub temu pogosto povečana zaradi visoke ocenjevalne narave reklamnih oglasov, ki je pogosto prežeta z ideologijo. Članek prepozna vrste enoglasnih izjav in razišče njihov ocenjevalni naboj v reklamnih oglasih, ki lahko znatno prispeva k vsesplošni prepričevalni retoriki reklamnih oglasov znotraj sistema vrednotenja (Martin, White, 2005). O avtorici Agata Križan je zaposlena kot lektorica angleškega jezika na Filozofski fakulteti Univerze v Mariboru. Leta 2004 je magistrirala na področju poučevanja angleškega jezika na Univerzi v Birminghamu (VB) ter leta 2017 doktorirala iz angleškega jezika na Filozofski fakulteti Uni- verze v Mariboru. Na področju angleškega jezika se strokovno ukvarja z jezikom vrednotenja, jezikom v oglaševanju, diskurzno analizo in kritičnim branjem. S teh področij je objavila več znanstvenih in strokovnih člankov ter poglavij v monografijah. About the author Agata Križan is employed as an English language lecturer at the Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor. In 2004 she received her master’s degree in English language teaching from the University of Birmingham (UK) and in 2017 her doctorate in English from the Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor. She specializes in the language of evaluation, language in advertising, discourse analysis and critical reading. In these fields she has published several scientific and professional articles, as well as chapters in monographs. AH_2020_1_FINAL.indd 185 29. 06. 2020 09:22:08