Revisiting genre in Bakhtin through Patrick Sériot´s perspective: dispersion of meanings and pedagogical implications

Abstract

The present work discusses what the well known Slavonian languages expert Patrick Sériot calls "poor understanding" in Bakhtin’s theories on genre, in his essay Généraliser l'unique: genres, types et sphères chez Bakhtine. Some topics are detailed in order for one to learn about the historic course followed by the philosopher and the specific text on genres (Speech genres). Then, taking interpretation as dispersion and effects on meaning, the way theory has been made operational and its interpretation along its history is discussed. Noowadays, it has been said that Bakhtin is other than the one he used to be for himself and his contemporaries. What is in focus here is reflecting on all that dispersion of meanings means to us, considering the changes in methodological development in the teaching and learning of languages.