Abstract

Perlocutionary intertexts (PIs) have received little attention in the literature on nonliterary discourse. This paper
explores PIs in spiked article titles. A textual survey and intertextual analysis were conducted to probe into the
pragmatic and intertextual workings of the PIs and their potential appeals. It is found that 1) the sociocultural
knowledge for the activation of the PIs is primarily derived from formulaic language, prominent
literary/non-literary works, and media products; 2) pragmatic foregrounding attracts the reader’s attention; 3) the
common ground derived from the source text forms the basis of the intertextual association; 4) external
intertextuality triggers the pragmatic inferencing of the PI meaning and/or significance; and 5) internal
paratextuality confirms or further develops the pragmatic inferencing. In addition, a post hoc questionnaire
survey with 83 Taiwanese college students and their reading-response logs indicate that such intercultural PIs are
moderately appealing, with their repellent effects upon the unknowing readers nullifying some of their attraction.

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