Discourse types and functions in popular romance fiction novels ('Work in progress')

Abstract

This paper offers an overview of the aims of Research Project FFI2014-53962, which analyzes from the perspective of discourse a corpus of popular romance fiction novels totally or partially set in the Canaries (also in other Atlantic islands). Firstly, the project examines the way these texts contribute to the construction, maintenance and diffusion of the imaginary of these islands as a paradise. Secondly, it deals with the gender stereotypes they tend to present. Thirdly, the contrast between the sociocultural identities of local vs British English heroes and heroines is also studied, whenever mixed couples are included in the plots. Finally, from the linguistic perspective, we prove that while showing awareness of language and cultural differences in many of their plots, these works also serve as vehicles to spread Spanish words and expressions among their wide international readership. The functions this vocabulary seems to play in the texts is also approached.