Golato2008

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Golato2008
BibType ARTICLE
Key Golato2008
Author(s) Andrea Golato, Emma Betz
Title German ach and achso in Repair Uptake: Resources to Sustain or Remove Epistemic Asymmetry
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, repair uptake, response tokens, interjections, achso, ach
Publisher
Year 2008
Language
City
Month
Journal Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft
Volume 27
Number 1
Pages 7–37
URL Link
DOI 10.1515/ZFSW.2008.002
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Using conversation analytic methodology, this article examines the use of the German tokens ach ‘oh’ and achso ‘oh I see’ in the uptake of repair. While achso has been studied from a functional-pragmatic perspective, no contrastive study of ach and achso exists. We investigate two questions: Do different forms of ach occur in the same sequential position? Are they associated with different interactional functions?

The paper shows that in sequentially third position, repairs are receipted with ach or achso. The different tokens have different interactional import. While ach receipts new informational content (claiming a change-of-state, similar to English oh; Heritage 1984), it does not mark understanding. Achso, by contrast, serves as a receipt for information and prior action, claiming that speakers now share the same epistemic level and thus marking a successful repair resolution. Achso makes sequence closure relevant and is followed by a shift in action and/or topic while an ach-turn makes more talk relevant, specifically next turn confirmation.

The paper concludes by discussing the component tokens ach and so separately and outlining implications for the study of epistemics through ‘little words.’

Notes