A Model for the Pragmatic Analysis of Gossip

Gossip is a positive or a negative evaluative information about contextually determined and deviant acts of third party(ies) (most often non-present, but potentially present in the conversation). However, gossip is a broad topic that has been approached from different angles. Several studies have attempted to tackle gossip pragmatically. Yet, those attempts have suffered from many gaps and drawbacks, in addition to the insufficient accounts that characterize them. Accordingly, this paper is an attempt to develop a pragmatic model for the analysis of gossip. This model is based upon two relevant previous models of gossip as well as the pragmatic observations made by the researchers concerning the topic.
The validity of the developed model has been tested by means of analyzing twenty gossip situations taken form Jane Austen’s Emma. As a result, the developed model has proved its validity in pragmatically analyzing gossip on the basis of the pragmatic findings and conclusions arrived at in that novel.