Thompson2020

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Thompson2020
BibType INCOLLECTION
Key Thompson2020
Author(s) Sandra A. Thompson, Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen
Title English why don’t you X as a formulaic expression
Editor(s) Ritva Laury, Tsuyoshi Ono
Tag(s) EMCA, English, Grammar, Advice, Formulaic expression, Reduction, Prosody, Interactional linguistics, Deontics, Agency, Accounts
Publisher
Year 2020
Language English
City
Month
Journal
Volume
Number
Pages 99-132
URL Link
DOI https://doi.org/10.1075/pbns.315.05tho
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title Fixed Expressions: Building language structure and social action
Chapter

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Abstract

In this chapter we examine a formulaic expression in English, why don’t you + action verb/predicate (= WDY). We show that WDY is used in everyday conversation to carry out the social work of giving advice, as in why don't you try taking it again? We argue that this construction is a formulaic expression because it is not understood compositionally: the WDY format does not ask a question, but proposes a future action that the speaker is recommending that the recipient undertake. Our chapter explores the implicativeness of WDY for subsequent talk, and reveals the intricate relationship between the grammar of WDY and the social work that it is used to do.

Notes