SorjonenRaevaaraCouper-Kuhlen2017

From emcawiki
Jump to: navigation, search
SorjonenRaevaaraCouper-Kuhlen2017
BibType COLLECTION
Key SorjonenRaevaaraCouper-Kuhlen2017
Author(s)
Title Imperative Turns at Talk: The Design of Directives in Action
Editor(s) Marja-Leena Sorjonen, Liisa Raevaara, Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen
Tag(s) EMCA, action formation, directive, imperative, interactional linguistics, request
Publisher John Benjamins
Year 2017
Language English
City Amsterdam
Month
Journal
Volume
Number
Pages
URL Link
DOI 10.1075/slsi.30
ISBN 978-90-272-2640-2
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series Studies in Language and Social Interaction
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

Download BibTex

Abstract

In middle-class Anglo-speaking circles imperatives are considered impolite forms that command another to do something; etiquette manuals recommend avoiding them. The papers in this collection de-construct such lay beliefs. Through the empirical examination of everyday and institutional interaction across a range of languages, they show that imperatives are routinely used for constructing turns that further sociality in interactional situations. Moreover, they show that for understanding the use of an imperatively formatted turn, its specific design (whether it contains, e.g., an overt subject, object, modal particles, or diminutives), and its sequential and temporal positioning in verbal and embodied activities are crucial. The fact that the same type of imperative turn is appropriate under the same circumstances across linguistically diverse cultures suggests that there are common aspects of imperative turn design and common pragmatic dimensions of situations warranting their use. The volume provides new insights into the resources and processes involved when social actors try to get another to do something.

Notes