Maynard1985b

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Maynard1985b
BibType ARTICLE
Key Maynard1985b
Author(s) Douglas W. Maynard
Title How children start arguments
Editor(s)
Tag(s) EMCA, Children, Conversation Analysis, child language, social organi zation, presupposition, dispute genres, American English
Publisher
Year 1985
Language English
City
Month
Journal Language in Society
Volume 14
Number 1
Pages 1–29
URL Link
DOI 10.1017/S0047404500010915
ISBN
Organization
Institution
School
Type
Edition
Series
Howpublished
Book title
Chapter

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Abstract

Previous research on children's arguments has neglected their initial phases, particularly how they arise out of children's ongoing practical activities. This paper examines how any utterance or activity can be opposed, the concept of opposition being at the center of any definition of argument. However, once opposition has occurred, it can be treated in a variety of ways, and a full-blown argument or dispute is only one possible and contingent outcome. Children analyze others's moves not only verbally, but nonverbally as well. Thus, bodily actions and presupposition are necessary components in the analysis of how arguments are started. Nonverbal oppositional moves may be at the base of semantically constructed disputes. When opposition occurs, it is to be taken to imply the violation of some rule or value. The meaning of that rule or value relative to children's culture is taken to have to do not with its content, but its usage in promoting a local social organization.

Notes