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from an anthropological point <strong>of</strong> view it was never really done from actual emotional<br />

performance.<br />

According to Lutz and Abu-Lughod (1990) interest has only recently started to<br />

be shown on Sapir's view <strong>of</strong> the pervasiveness <strong>of</strong> emotional expression in linguistic<br />

expression. Lutz and Abu-Lughod cite the research <strong>of</strong> Irvine (1990), who bases her<br />

research on the study <strong>of</strong> registers which she calls "varieties according to use" in<br />

contrast with dialects which are "varieties according to users" (Lutz and Abu-Lughod<br />

1990:127). According to them Irvine (1990) investigates it from an interactional point<br />

<strong>of</strong> view on research done in rural Senegal in a Wol<strong>of</strong> community. Some American<br />

linguists and sociolinguists preferred the term linguistic variety and code. The registers<br />

display certain linguistic characteristics <strong>of</strong>a community <strong>of</strong>speakers.<br />

Irvine (1990) emphasises that recent anthropological approaches to the study <strong>of</strong><br />

emotion have always put emphasis on the contextual approach i.e. emotions arise and<br />

are displayed in social situations and to understand emotions one needs to understand<br />

the social relations that one is experiencing and that define oneself. Important also is<br />

the role <strong>of</strong> linguistic convention, which provides resources from which one can choose<br />

when one wants to display emotions, how others and the framework <strong>of</strong> interpretation<br />

will interpret his behaviour. (Lutz and Abu-Lughod 1990:131) This expression <strong>of</strong><br />

feelings helps to promote social relationships.<br />

In chapter 3, when the nature <strong>of</strong> emotions was discussed, it was clear that there<br />

IS no unanimity concerning emotions. This was based on LeDoux and Steinberg's<br />

VIews. It was also clear that there are no fundamental emotions. The scientific<br />

description <strong>of</strong> emotions IS subjective, but pretends to be objective. Subjective<br />

53

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