This thesis is a study focusing on all the linguistic forms that express intensity (either those brought about through degree or contrast). Grounded in several recognized semantic theories, it seeks to explain these forms and proposes a general definition for intensity. This approach leads to a rigorous typology, on which the presentation is based :
Chapter 1: General definition of intensity; intensity as defined by different theoretical frameworks (prototype, Culioli's utter-centered approach, speech acts, argumentation in language, salience, theory of information).
Chapter 2: 'Simple' utterances. Lexical and grammatical intensifiers; slang.
Chapter 3: 'Complex' utterances. Intensive inferences based on the notion of consequence or cause, or on truth tables.
Chapter 4: Figures of speech : repetition, gradation, enumeration, hyperbole, euphemism, litotes, oxymoron, irony, metaphor, comparison. Emphasis : focalisation, topicalisation.
Chapter 5: Intensity in utterances as speech acts addressed to a hearer. Theory of speech acts, politeness, argumentation, argumentation in language.
Chapter 6: Intonational, gestural and scriptoral means of intensity.
Chapter 7: Critical synthesis of psycholinguistic experiments on intensifiers. Measure of intensifiers; phenomenon of intensity transfer from one point of the utterance to another, clustering of intensifiers; memorization.
Chapter 8: Achievements. Link between the notions of paragon, truth, stereotypy, taboo, and intensity. General observations about iconicity, idioms, meta-language, implicitness, counterfactuality. Possible continuations and applications of the thesis.
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