John Benjamins Publishing Company
Uncertainty as integrated part of meaning and understanding
Abstract
In this chapter, we discuss the issue of uncertainty in language and communication. The starting point for the discussion is Weigand’s (2010) Mixed Game Model, a theory of dialogic language use. Feller’s (2010) meaning-in-use, which conceptualizes meaning construction as a dialogic process, puts the focus on meaning and understanding in dialog. Against this theoretical background, we discuss the roles of uncertainty in dialog, especially in the context of speaker interests, cross-cultural communication, and inner dialog. We will therefore look into the different knowledge types that are integrated in language use and which are used by the dialog partners to construct meaning and interpret utterances. The main argument is that these knowledge types are veined with blind spots for the dialog partners, which they fill in with their expectations along measures of probability. Uncertainty is thus an integrated part of dialogic language use.
Abstract
In this chapter, we discuss the issue of uncertainty in language and communication. The starting point for the discussion is Weigand’s (2010) Mixed Game Model, a theory of dialogic language use. Feller’s (2010) meaning-in-use, which conceptualizes meaning construction as a dialogic process, puts the focus on meaning and understanding in dialog. Against this theoretical background, we discuss the roles of uncertainty in dialog, especially in the context of speaker interests, cross-cultural communication, and inner dialog. We will therefore look into the different knowledge types that are integrated in language use and which are used by the dialog partners to construct meaning and interpret utterances. The main argument is that these knowledge types are veined with blind spots for the dialog partners, which they fill in with their expectations along measures of probability. Uncertainty is thus an integrated part of dialogic language use.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
-
Theoretical and general models
- Subjectivity in modality, and beyond 13
- Certainty and uncertainty in assertive speech acts 31
- Ideal and deviant interlocutors in a formal interpretation system 59
- On being certain whether 79
- Uncertainty as integrated part of meaning and understanding 99
- Epistemic stance 115
-
Medical and supportive interactions
- Requesting help with null or limited knowledge 139
- The journey to advice 157
- Diagnostic news delivery 183
- Epistemic struggles in addiction Therapeutic Community meetings 201
- Embodying epistemicity 223
-
Scientific writing and academic communication
- The fabric of certainty 249
- Hedging and attitude markers in Spanish and English scientific medical writing 273
- A theoretical contribution to tackling certainty and uncertainty in scientific writing 291
- BioUncertainty 309
- Uncertainty markers in a corpus of German biomedical papers from Spektrum der Wissenschaft (1993-2012) 341
- Questioning certainty in research articles and popular science articles 369
- Self-repairs and certainty in Romanian academic meetings 389
- About the authors 403
- Index 411
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface 1
-
Theoretical and general models
- Subjectivity in modality, and beyond 13
- Certainty and uncertainty in assertive speech acts 31
- Ideal and deviant interlocutors in a formal interpretation system 59
- On being certain whether 79
- Uncertainty as integrated part of meaning and understanding 99
- Epistemic stance 115
-
Medical and supportive interactions
- Requesting help with null or limited knowledge 139
- The journey to advice 157
- Diagnostic news delivery 183
- Epistemic struggles in addiction Therapeutic Community meetings 201
- Embodying epistemicity 223
-
Scientific writing and academic communication
- The fabric of certainty 249
- Hedging and attitude markers in Spanish and English scientific medical writing 273
- A theoretical contribution to tackling certainty and uncertainty in scientific writing 291
- BioUncertainty 309
- Uncertainty markers in a corpus of German biomedical papers from Spektrum der Wissenschaft (1993-2012) 341
- Questioning certainty in research articles and popular science articles 369
- Self-repairs and certainty in Romanian academic meetings 389
- About the authors 403
- Index 411
