Fear-Driven Dialogue: A Linguistic Study of Death Knocks and Death.

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Title: Fear-Driven Dialogue: A Linguistic Study of Death Knocks and Death.
Authors: Adel, Mohammed A. Abou1 mohamad.abouadel@uaeu.ac.ae, Elhalafawy, Ayman I.2 ayman.elhalafawi@art.kfs.edu.eg, Khalifa, Samir H.3 samirhashem@nec.edu.sa, Al Mahamed, Ahmad M.4 ahmad.almahamed@adu.ac.ae, El-Zaghal, Fatma T.5 fatma_tawakol@art.tanta.edu.eg
Source: Journal of Language Teaching & Research. May2026, Vol. 17 Issue 3, p821-833. 13p.
Subject Terms: *Conversation analysis, *Conversation, *Emotions, Fear of death, Dramatists, American dramatists
People: Allen, Woody, 1935-
Abstract: This study explores how fear as a mood state affects conversational patterns and shapes communicative behavior. It offers a novel perspective on how fear influences both verbal and nonverbal interactions. Drawing on dialogues from Woody Allen's Death Knocks and Death, the analysis employs Conversation Analysis by Jack Sidnell (2010) and the multimodal extensions proposed by Lorenza Mondada (2019). The study addresses a notable gap by applying both Conversation Analysis (CA) and Multimodal Conversation Analysis (MMCA) to Woody Allen's modern drama, where gestures, posture, and movement are central to meaning-making. The study also moves beyond single-discipline approaches by adopting an interdisciplinary framework that brings together applied linguistics, theatre studies, and emotional psychology. This allows for a deeper understanding of how theatrical discourse is shaped under the pressure of existential emotion and offers a genuine contribution at the intersection of these knowledge domains. The findings indicate that fear disrupts logical conversation, resulting in brief, tense exchanges characterized by emotional rigidity and cognitive imbalance. The study contributes to improving dialogue management in real-life interactions and dramatic scripts, particularly in contexts of psychological tension. Future research may examine how other emotions--such as joy, anger, or anxiety--shape conversation to deepen our understanding of the relationship between emotion and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Language Teaching & Research is the property of Academy Publication Co., LTD and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: This study explores how fear as a mood state affects conversational patterns and shapes communicative behavior. It offers a novel perspective on how fear influences both verbal and nonverbal interactions. Drawing on dialogues from Woody Allen's Death Knocks and Death, the analysis employs Conversation Analysis by Jack Sidnell (2010) and the multimodal extensions proposed by Lorenza Mondada (2019). The study addresses a notable gap by applying both Conversation Analysis (CA) and Multimodal Conversation Analysis (MMCA) to Woody Allen's modern drama, where gestures, posture, and movement are central to meaning-making. The study also moves beyond single-discipline approaches by adopting an interdisciplinary framework that brings together applied linguistics, theatre studies, and emotional psychology. This allows for a deeper understanding of how theatrical discourse is shaped under the pressure of existential emotion and offers a genuine contribution at the intersection of these knowledge domains. The findings indicate that fear disrupts logical conversation, resulting in brief, tense exchanges characterized by emotional rigidity and cognitive imbalance. The study contributes to improving dialogue management in real-life interactions and dramatic scripts, particularly in contexts of psychological tension. Future research may examine how other emotions--such as joy, anger, or anxiety--shape conversation to deepen our understanding of the relationship between emotion and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Language Teaching & Research is the property of Academy Publication Co., LTD and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.17507/jltr.1703.07
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        Text: English
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        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Conversation
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      – SubjectFull: Emotions
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      – SubjectFull: Fear of death
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      – SubjectFull: Dramatists
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      – SubjectFull: American dramatists
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      – SubjectFull: Allen, Woody, 1935-
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      – TitleFull: Fear-Driven Dialogue: A Linguistic Study of Death Knocks and Death.
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            NameFull: Adel, Mohammed A. Abou
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              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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