Partial intersubjectivity and sufficient understandings for current practical purposes : On a specialized practice in Swedish conversation

This paper explores issues of intersubjectivity and shared understanding as they arise in dyadic spoken interaction. Using data from Swedish conversations, we approach the topic by focusing on the functions of a reactive construction that occurs in situations when a linguistic expression (x) has been used in a prior utterance, and this expression is found to be only partially acceptable in the situation at hand. It is therefore reacted to by one of the interlocutors, and negotiated in a new turn initiated by x-°a-x, i.e. a unit in which two identical copies of x are conjoined by °a ‘and’, and then expanded by a supporting argument. The pragmatic functions of the construction include that of suggesting a sufficient clarification of what should be a reasonable situated meaning and an intersubjective basis for ensuing talk.Peer reviewe

Väitös naurun asemasta vuorovaikutuksessa

Kirja-arvioHaakana, Markku: Laughing matters: A conversation analytical study of laughter in doctor-patient interactio

The Written Language Bias in Linguistics

For some time I have been thinking of the predicament of present-day linguistics in terms of what I venture to call "the written language bias". It seems to me that a great number of our explicit or implicit theories, our methods and preferences are heavily influenced by the very long traditions of analyzing mainly, or only, certain kinds of written language. Even when we are in fact focussing on spoken language, we seem to approach it with a theoretical apparatus which is more apt for the analysisof written language. This essay represents a first attempt on my part to systematize some thoughts about this. I hope that it will stimulate discussion and lead to constructive criticism. This bock was largely written in t he academic year 1980/81 when I was employed by the Swedish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. When I worked at it, I profited from many ideas and suggestions of other people. Among these schalars I want to single out two, Jens Allwood and Ragnar Ronunetveit, with whom I had many inspiring discussions

Modeller och metaforer för kommunikation

Den text som publiceras här som SIC 1 är en nlgot utökad version av den  föreläsning som jag höll den 22 april 1982 vid min installation som professor vid temainstitutionen vid universitetet i Linköping

The Written Language Bias in Linguistics

For some time I have been thinking of the predicament of present-day linguistics in terms of what I venture to call "the written language bias". It seems to me that a great number of our explicit or implicit theories, our methods and preferences are heavily influenced by the very long traditions of analyzing mainly, or only, certain kinds of written language. Even when we are in fact focussing on spoken language, we seem to approach it with a theoretical apparatus which is more apt for the analysisof written language. This essay represents a first attempt on my part to systematize some thoughts about this. I hope that it will stimulate discussion and lead to constructive criticism. This bock was largely written in t he academic year 1980/81 when I was employed by the Swedish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences. When I worked at it, I profited from many ideas and suggestions of other people. Among these schalars I want to single out two, Jens Allwood and Ragnar Ronunetveit, with whom I had many inspiring discussions

Väitös naurun asemasta vuorovaikutuksessa

Kirja-arvioHaakana, Markku: Laughing matters: A conversation analytical study of laughter in doctor-patient interactio