Zinken2015

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Zinken2015
BibType ARTICLE
Key Zinken2015
Author(s) Jörg Zinken
Title Contingent control over shared goods. ‘Can I have x’ requests in British English informal interaction
Editor(s)
Tag(s) In press, EMCA, Context, Home environment, Material objects, Multimodality, Requests, Timing
Publisher
Year 2015
Language
City
Month
Journal Journal of Pragmatics
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Number
Pages
URL Link
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pragma.2015.03.005
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
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Howpublished
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Abstract

When formulating a request for an object, speakers can choose among different grammatical resources that would all serve the overall purpose. This paper examines the social contexts indexed and created by the choice of the turn format can I have x to request a shared good (the pepper grinder, a tissue from a box on the table, etc.) in British English informal interaction. The analysis is based on a video corpus of approximately 25 h of everyday interaction among family and friends. In its home environment, a request in the format can I have x treats the other as being in control over the relevant material object, a control that is the contingent outcome of ongoing courses of action. This contingent control over a shared good produces an obligation to make it available. This analysis is supported by an examination of similarly formatted request turns in other languages, of can I have x in another interactional environment (after a relevant offer has been made) in British English, and of deviant cases. The results highlight the intimate connection of request format selection to the present engagements of (prospective) request recipients.

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