Fictionality (from Latin fictio, “ invented literature”) is the defining characteristic of the category of texts that deal with invented characters, subjects, or events. The term indicates the pragmatic status of the language, in contrast to factual (unambiguous, referential) language - while the adjective fictive (as opposed to real) refers to the ontological status of fictionality. [5]. Fictional language differs from everyday language in its lack of referentiality; in other words, none of its expression is based on components outside of the …
Fictionality (808 words)
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Wesche, Jörg, “Fictionality”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_SIM_019267>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20180126
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