Guylaine Martel

Biography

From literary discourse to everyday conversation, Guylaine Martel's passion for the rhetoric of spontaneous oral discourse was revealed during her doctorate in sociolinguistics. Against the most stubborn prejudices, his thesis has demonstrated the complexity and finesse of "ordinary" speech and, above all, the ingenuity of individuals to exploit with pertinence the vast repertoire of language forms. From natural logic (Neuchâtel, Switzerland) to verbal interaction (Lyon2, France), her postdoctoral research led her to complete her expertise in the field of classical argumentation as well as the expression of emotions, lands of predilection for a whole new research interest: the media discourse. Professor at the Department since 2000, Guylaine Martel is particularly interested in the analysis of media discourse. His research focuses on the staging of newscasts and the performance of politicians in news and entertainment programs. With her students and collaborators, she is also working on a model for building the media image of public figures. Its leitmotiv? Valuing all forms of expression of popular culture by bringing to light the expressive power of spontaneous uses and the creativity of those who practice them. His greatest satisfaction? Fighting impressions and, through concrete analytical results, challenging judgments about communication and the media. His mentors? Erwing Goffman and Janette Bertrand. His inspirations? Sophie Thibault, Jean-Luc Mongrain, Jean Charest, Pauline Marois, Régis Labeaume ... and all those who, by their style, enrich the Quebec models of communication.

Research Interest

Analysis of media discourse. Social interaction. Oral communication performance. Argumentation and rhetoric. Strategies for building the media image.