Approaching Literature with Linguistic Means: a Few Conclusions

This paper is a follow-up of my research carried out on the interface area of language and literature, summarizing the conclusions that can be drawn from the approach of literary works with linguistic means. In my research I have analysed the dramatic works of G. B. Shaw with the help of the latest results of interactional sociolinguistics. After a thorough examination of the Shavian characters’ verbal interaction focusing on the relevance of ethnic features (Britishness, for instance), this article discusses the legitimacy of linguistic methods in the interpretation of literary works.