The theoretical background and practical implications of argumentation in Ireland

While the association between the words “Ireland” and “argumentation” may not necessarily look so straightforward, it is the purpose of this book to show that they are in fact closely connected. In particular, the volume offers a linguistic perspective to suggest that the study of reasoned argument is likely to have a wide range of potential applications in the context of Irish public discourse. Taking two of the classic, favourite subjects of inquiry of contemporary argumentation theory, the volume addresses the issue of the construction of argumentation in the judiciary and in the politics of the Irish Republic. On the basis of three illustrative case studies, the research fields the following general questions: (1) what methods can be used to identify any distinctive aspect of the language at work in public settings where argumentation is the expected form of interaction?; (2) how can such methods lead to an integrated approach to the study of argumentative language in Irish public discourse, in the interest of field scholars and practitioners alike?