Pragmatics of Paris market sellers’ exclamations: sociolinguistic and ethnographic aspects

 

This paper deals with an analysis of the sellers’ exclamations at the marketplaces in Paris. The article aims to examine socio-demographic, ethnographic and linguistic characteristics of Paris market sellers’ exclamations. Our empirical study was based on direct observation in this field, interview with vendors and customers at different Paris markets, notes taken there and recorded exclamations of the sellers in the marketplaces.

A detailed description of two types of Paris marketplaces is provided, notably those in the city centre (e.g. Monge, Port-Royal, Raspail) as well as several others located outside the central area (e.g. Belleville, Aligre, Barbès). According to the participant observation in the marketplace, the latter are more animated and noisy; therefore the vendor exclamations can be found frequently here. The interaction between vendors and customers is quicker and more rapid at markets which are distant from the city centre. It is often a simple commercial transaction. The prices are lower here. The sellers are basically immigrants from Algeria, Morocco, Bangladesh, Cameroun, Senegal, Egypt, India, China, Spain, Czech Republic, etc., who generally speak their native language. The predominant language, however, is Arabic. Female sellers are not numerous here. 

On the other hand, central markets are distinguished by smaller size and higher prices. The interaction between vendors and their clients is more individualized and has more distinctive individual character than in the other type of markets described above. Ethnic French people are regular customers of these markets and make the majority of the vendors too. About 80% of vendors deny practicing exclamations in the marketplace in central Paris. 

On the contrary, the more distant markets are from the city center the oftener vendor exclamations are used, especially at the end of the day. As a result of the analysis, two types of vendor exclamations are defined, namely a) exclamations to specific client and b) general ones, addressed to no-one in particular. 

The first type of vendor exclamations includes various forms of address: standard, familial terms of address, affectionate ones and forms of address for the nobles.  

The second type of sellers’ exclamations is aimed to attract attention to the price, often in different languages, especially to announce price reduction or discount.

The vendors also call the customers’ attention by a sell-off advertisement and ∕ or exclamations providing essential information about their production, producers and origin of their goods, their quality, flavor etc.

The sellers’ exclamations are often followed by whistle, interjections and other paralinguistic elements intensifying their influence upon potential customers. 

Pragmatics of Paris market sellers’ exclamations: sociolinguistic and ethnographic aspects

 

This paper deals with an analysis of the sellers’ exclamations at the marketplaces in Paris. The article aims to examine socio-demographic, ethnographic and linguistic characteristics of Paris market sellers’ exclamations. Our empirical study was based on direct observation in this field, interview with vendors and customers at different Paris markets, notes taken there and recorded exclamations of the sellers in the marketplaces.

A detailed description of two types of Paris marketplaces is provided, notably those in the city centre (e.g. Monge, Port-Royal, Raspail) as well as several others located outside the central area (e.g. Belleville, Aligre, Barbès). According to the participant observation in the marketplace, the latter are more animated and noisy; therefore the vendor exclamations can be found frequently here. The interaction between vendors and customers is quicker and more rapid at markets which are distant from the city centre. It is often a simple commercial transaction. The prices are lower here. The sellers are basically immigrants from Algeria, Morocco, Bangladesh, Cameroun, Senegal, Egypt, India, China, Spain, Czech Republic, etc., who generally speak their native language. The predominant language, however, is Arabic. Female sellers are not numerous here. 

On the other hand, central markets are distinguished by smaller size and higher prices. The interaction between vendors and their clients is more individualized and has more distinctive individual character than in the other type of markets described above. Ethnic French people are regular customers of these markets and make the majority of the vendors too. About 80% of vendors deny practicing exclamations in the marketplace in central Paris. 

On the contrary, the more distant markets are from the city center the oftener vendor exclamations are used, especially at the end of the day. As a result of the analysis, two types of vendor exclamations are defined, namely a) exclamations to specific client and b) general ones, addressed to no-one in particular. 

The first type of vendor exclamations includes various forms of address: standard, familial terms of address, affectionate ones and forms of address for the nobles.  

The second type of sellers’ exclamations is aimed to attract attention to the price, often in different languages, especially to announce price reduction or discount.

The vendors also call the customers’ attention by a sell-off advertisement and ∕ or exclamations providing essential information about their production, producers and origin of their goods, their quality, flavor etc.

The sellers’ exclamations are often followed by whistle, interjections and other paralinguistic elements intensifying their influence upon potential customers.