Walker2014a
Walker2014a | |
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BibType | ARTICLE |
Key | Walker2014a |
Author(s) | Traci Walker |
Title | Form ≠ function: the independence of prosody and action |
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Tag(s) | EMCA, IL, Transcription, Prosody, Action |
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Year | 2014 |
Language | English |
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Journal | Research on Language and Social Interaction |
Volume | 47 |
Number | 1 |
Pages | 1–16 |
URL | Link |
DOI | 10.1080/08351813.2014.871792 |
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Abstract
This article argues for the importance of describing form independently of function, especially for prosodic and phonetic forms. Form and function are often conflated by language-in-interaction researchers when they give descriptive labels to the sound of talk (e.g., “upgraded” pitch, “continuing” intonation), and that tempts researchers to see a given form as having a given function or practice—often one that is influenced by the descriptive label. I argue that we should discipline ourselves to keeping to a purely technical description of any form (practice); that will then make it possible unambiguously to show how that form contributes to a particular function (action), without presuming the relationship to be exclusive. Data are in American and British English.
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