MENTAL PERSPECTIVE IN GROUP NARRATIVE

Group narratives transmit the knowledge of group history. In addition to their role in mediating facts about the history of a nation, they also define ways of thinking about events through the way they represent these events. Mental states appearing in narratives are subtle means of mediating group identity. In our study, we analysed the identity-construction and identity-transmitting function of narrative perspective in history textbooks published between 1900 and 2007. Distribution of linguistic mental states between groups was studied in two historical events (Absolutism, Trianon Peace Treaty). Our results were also studied in terms of historical canons known in history science and myths.