My research explores the heuristic potential of selected frameworks from linguistics and cognitive science – conversation analysis, im/politeness theory, paroemiology, and theory of mind – to provide a multifaceted understanding of cross-sex interactions in Euripides. The focus on female language enables a critical confrontation with sociolinguistic and feminist theories concerning women’s place in drama. The analysis considers dialogues involving speakers in an altered mental state, examines instances in which female characters assume a leadership role in conversation management, and investigates patterns of manipulative language. By exploring the well-established critical judgement of deception and scheming associated with the female position as Other and subordinate to the male counterpart, the research aims to re-evaluate the communicative power and authority assigned to women in Greek tragedy.
My DPhil is co-funded by the Faculty of Classics and Magdalen College. My research interests beyond tragedy include textual criticism, fragmentary plays, Greek lyric poetry, and proverbial speech.
