Abstract
This thesis is an empirical study of how positioning is achieved in interactional Swedish.
Positioning has previously been described in terms of epistemic modality, interpersonal
positioning, stanceand speech act adverbials. The aims of the study are, firstly, to identify what
linguistic resources are used to achieve positioning in interaction. A second aim is to describe
where in the turn-constructional unit, TCU, positioning is achieved, and how location within
the TCU is related to syntax, prosody and function. And thirdly, the aim is to describe some
of the interactional sequences in which positioning takes place.
The empirical data for this study is a collection of natural conversations from a wide range
of interactional contexts. The collection comprises 6 hours and 30 minutes of conversation,
approximately 70.000 words.
The theoretical and methodological framework for this thesis is Interactional Linguistics,
where traditional grammar and Conversation Analysis are combined.
This thesis focuses on how speakers use certain verbs and verb phrases to position
themselves with respect both to the content of the utterance and to the other participants.
In order to analyse the distribution of the verb phrases in the TCU, a so-called phase
schemais used. This reflects the production of the real time TCU with regards to how syntax,
prosody and pragmatics are employed. This part of the study focuses on the distribution of the
five most frequent verbs within the turn and the TCU. Factors that influence the function,
meaning and form of the verbs are syntax, prosody and pragmatics.
The interactional functions of positioning verb phrases are of a turn orchestrating, a
relational as well as a semantic nature. These functions are influenced by position, interactional
context, and semantic context. The verbs often appear in narratives, in evaluations, in guessing
sequences, in explanations and in environments where there are interactional problems. In
other words, the positioning verb phrases display social actions, and function as grease in the
interactional machinery.
Positioning has previously been described in terms of epistemic modality, interpersonal
positioning, stanceand speech act adverbials. The aims of the study are, firstly, to identify what
linguistic resources are used to achieve positioning in interaction. A second aim is to describe
where in the turn-constructional unit, TCU, positioning is achieved, and how location within
the TCU is related to syntax, prosody and function. And thirdly, the aim is to describe some
of the interactional sequences in which positioning takes place.
The empirical data for this study is a collection of natural conversations from a wide range
of interactional contexts. The collection comprises 6 hours and 30 minutes of conversation,
approximately 70.000 words.
The theoretical and methodological framework for this thesis is Interactional Linguistics,
where traditional grammar and Conversation Analysis are combined.
This thesis focuses on how speakers use certain verbs and verb phrases to position
themselves with respect both to the content of the utterance and to the other participants.
In order to analyse the distribution of the verb phrases in the TCU, a so-called phase
schemais used. This reflects the production of the real time TCU with regards to how syntax,
prosody and pragmatics are employed. This part of the study focuses on the distribution of the
five most frequent verbs within the turn and the TCU. Factors that influence the function,
meaning and form of the verbs are syntax, prosody and pragmatics.
The interactional functions of positioning verb phrases are of a turn orchestrating, a
relational as well as a semantic nature. These functions are influenced by position, interactional
context, and semantic context. The verbs often appear in narratives, in evaluations, in guessing
sequences, in explanations and in environments where there are interactional problems. In
other words, the positioning verb phrases display social actions, and function as grease in the
interactional machinery.
| Original language | Swedish |
|---|---|
| Qualification | Doctor |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 2006 Apr 1 |
| Publisher | |
| ISBN (Print) | 91-87850-29-X |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Defence detailsDate: 2006-04-01
Time: 10:00
Place: Humanisten, Göteborgs universitet
External reviewer(s)
Name: Steensig, Jakob
Title: [unknown]
Affiliation: Aarhus universitet
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Subject classification (UKÄ)
- Humanities and the Arts
Free keywords
- stance
- epistemic modality
- Positioning
- verb phrases
- Interactional Linguistics
- Conversation Analysis
- turn
- TCU
- prosody
- sequence analysis
- Swedish.