Eriksson2009

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Eriksson2009
BibType ARTICLE
Key Eriksson2009
Author(s) Mats Eriksson
Title Referring as interaction: On the interplay between linguistic and bodily practices
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Reference, Embodied interaction, Gesture, Demonstratives, Pointing
Publisher
Year 2009
Language
City
Month
Journal Journal of Pragmatics
Volume 41
Number 2
Pages 240–262
URL Link
DOI 10.1016/j.pragma.2008.10.011
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

The study targets the interface of linguistic and bodily activities in referring to physically present objects in face-to-face interaction. On the basis of examples from a multi-party encounter between four speakers of Swedish, cases of referring sequences are analyzed, especially those involving demonstrative expressions. Referring to present objects constitutes an embedded action sequence, in which different practices provide solutions to the task of achieving a satisfactory identification of the referent. The larger matrix action sequence involves several interactional steps, such as guaranteeing a common visual focus in order to carry out the reference, as well as the subsequent confirmation by the other participants. The bodily displays used to make the referent salient involve a variety of forms, including pointing, touching, holding, picking up, shaking, and even fetching the object. Nevertheless, the combination of demonstratives and bodily practices may not be sufficient to establish the referent in a way that the participants find satisfactory. Repairs may be initiated and completed with the same type of means as the ones by which referring had been done in the first place, i.e. demonstratives and bodily practices.

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