Zhou2020

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Zhou2020
BibType ARTICLE
Key Zhou2020
Author(s) Yan Zhou
Title The principle of proportionality: Consequentiality and promises in Mandarin conversation
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Mandarin, Interactional Linguistics, Promises, Action, Goffman
Publisher
Year 2020
Language English
City
Month
Journal Chinese Language and Discourse
Volume 11
Number 1
Pages 107-133
URL Link
DOI https://doi.org/10.1075/cld.20004.zho
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

In Mandarin conversation, utterances about future actions with severe consequences are observed to correlate with bigger promises, marked by devices indicating greater illocutionary force, as compared with those about actions with less serious consequences. Applying the principle of proportionality proposed by Goffman (1971), I argue that participants’ design of promise is proportional to the severity of the action consequences, which is evaluated by the participants on a moment-by-moment basis. The ad hoc construction of promises shows that promising is a dynamic process, rather than a one-time action. The proportionality principle may also account for the differences between promises in institutional discourse and ordinary conversation.

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