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Positioneringsfraser i interaktion. Syntax, prosodi och funktion.

Karlsson, Susanna LU (2006)
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... (More)
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. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Steensig, Jakob, Aarhus universitet
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
stance, epistemic modality, Positioning, verb phrases, Interactional Linguistics, Conversation Analysis, turn, TCU, prosody, sequence analysis, Swedish.
pages
250 pages
publisher
Institutionen för svenska språket, Göteborgs universitet
defense location
Humanisten, Göteborgs universitet
defense date
2006-04-01 10:00:00
ISBN
91-87850-29-X
language
Swedish
LU publication?
no
id
87ac0c8d-eec2-4448-88b7-b4cc3379fcaf (old id 1458672)
alternative location
http://www.svenska.gu.se/publikationer/gns/
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:24:47
date last changed
2020-03-19 15:33:15
@phdthesis{87ac0c8d-eec2-4448-88b7-b4cc3379fcaf,
  abstract     = {{This thesis is an empirical study of how positioning is achieved in interactional Swedish. <br/><br>
Positioning has previously been described in terms of epistemic modality, interpersonal <br/><br>
positioning, stanceand speech act adverbials. The aims of the study are, firstly, to identify what <br/><br>
linguistic resources are used to achieve positioning in interaction. A second aim is to describe <br/><br>
where in the turn-constructional unit, TCU, positioning is achieved, and how location within <br/><br>
the TCU is related to syntax, prosody and function. And thirdly, the aim is to describe some <br/><br>
of the interactional sequences in which positioning takes place. <br/><br>
The empirical data for this study is a collection of natural conversations from a wide range <br/><br>
of interactional contexts. The collection comprises 6 hours and 30 minutes of conversation, <br/><br>
approximately 70.000 words. <br/><br>
The theoretical and methodological framework for this thesis is Interactional Linguistics, <br/><br>
where traditional grammar and Conversation Analysis are combined. <br/><br>
This thesis focuses on how speakers use certain verbs and verb phrases to position <br/><br>
themselves with respect both to the content of the utterance and to the other participants. <br/><br>
In order to analyse the distribution of the verb phrases in the TCU, a so-called phase <br/><br>
schemais used. This reflects the production of the real time TCU with regards to how syntax, <br/><br>
prosody and pragmatics are employed. This part of the study focuses on the distribution of the <br/><br>
five most frequent verbs within the turn and the TCU. Factors that influence the function, <br/><br>
meaning and form of the verbs are syntax, prosody and pragmatics. <br/><br>
The interactional functions of positioning verb phrases are of a turn orchestrating, a <br/><br>
relational as well as a semantic nature. These functions are influenced by position, interactional <br/><br>
context, and semantic context. The verbs often appear in narratives, in evaluations, in guessing <br/><br>
sequences, in explanations and in environments where there are interactional problems. In <br/><br>
other words, the positioning verb phrases display social actions, and function as grease in the <br/><br>
interactional machinery.}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Susanna}},
  isbn         = {{91-87850-29-X}},
  keywords     = {{stance; epistemic modality; Positioning; verb phrases; Interactional Linguistics; Conversation Analysis; turn; TCU; prosody; sequence analysis; Swedish.}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  publisher    = {{Institutionen för svenska språket, Göteborgs universitet}},
  title        = {{Positioneringsfraser i interaktion. Syntax, prosodi och funktion.}},
  url          = {{http://www.svenska.gu.se/publikationer/gns/}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}