What about?
-
Maria Josep Jarque Moyano
Abstract
This chapter deals with the multifunctional use of the question-answer sequence, which constitutes a prototypical conversational and intersubjective structure, across signed languages. Specifically, I examine the use of polar and content questions, and their subsequent answers, for the expression of non-information-seeking functions, namely topicality, conditionality, focus, connection, and relativization. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of Catalan Sign Language and published data on 30 signed languages. The analysis shows that the question-answer sequence has been grammaticalized and constitutes the unmarked or by-default option to encode these linguistic functions. I argue that the pattern forms a highly schematic symbolic unit and that the specific linguistic constructions, which are instances of fictive interaction, form a complex network.
Abstract
This chapter deals with the multifunctional use of the question-answer sequence, which constitutes a prototypical conversational and intersubjective structure, across signed languages. Specifically, I examine the use of polar and content questions, and their subsequent answers, for the expression of non-information-seeking functions, namely topicality, conditionality, focus, connection, and relativization. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of Catalan Sign Language and published data on 30 signed languages. The analysis shows that the question-answer sequence has been grammaticalized and constitutes the unmarked or by-default option to encode these linguistic functions. I argue that the pattern forms a highly schematic symbolic unit and that the specific linguistic constructions, which are instances of fictive interaction, form a complex network.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xi
-
Part I. Introduction
- Fictive interaction and the conversation frame 3
- Fictive interaction and the nature of linguistic meaning 23
-
Part II. Fictive interaction as cognitive reality
- Generic integration templates for fictive communication 45
- Real, imaginary, or fictive? 63
- Silent abstractions versus “ Look at me ” drawings 87
-
Part III. Fictive interaction as discourse structure
- Persuading and arguing with the reader 113
- Invocation or apostrophe? 131
- On discourse-motivated “sorries” 151
-
Part IV. Fictive interaction as linguistic construction
- What about? 171
- Fictive questions in conditionals? 193
- Intonation of fictive vs. actual direct speech in a Brazilian Portuguese corpus 215
- Polish nominal construction involving fictive interaction 235
- Evidential fictive interaction (in Ungarinyin and Russian) 255
- Recursive inflection and grammaticalized fictive interaction in the southwestern Amazon 277
-
Part V. Fictive interaction as communicative strategy
- “Say hello to this ad” 303
- The use of interactive structures as communicative strategy in Dutch and Portuguese aphasic speakers 323
- Echolalia as communicative strategy 343
- About the contributors 363
- Author index 369
- Language index 375
- Subject index 377
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors ix
- Acknowledgements xi
-
Part I. Introduction
- Fictive interaction and the conversation frame 3
- Fictive interaction and the nature of linguistic meaning 23
-
Part II. Fictive interaction as cognitive reality
- Generic integration templates for fictive communication 45
- Real, imaginary, or fictive? 63
- Silent abstractions versus “ Look at me ” drawings 87
-
Part III. Fictive interaction as discourse structure
- Persuading and arguing with the reader 113
- Invocation or apostrophe? 131
- On discourse-motivated “sorries” 151
-
Part IV. Fictive interaction as linguistic construction
- What about? 171
- Fictive questions in conditionals? 193
- Intonation of fictive vs. actual direct speech in a Brazilian Portuguese corpus 215
- Polish nominal construction involving fictive interaction 235
- Evidential fictive interaction (in Ungarinyin and Russian) 255
- Recursive inflection and grammaticalized fictive interaction in the southwestern Amazon 277
-
Part V. Fictive interaction as communicative strategy
- “Say hello to this ad” 303
- The use of interactive structures as communicative strategy in Dutch and Portuguese aphasic speakers 323
- Echolalia as communicative strategy 343
- About the contributors 363
- Author index 369
- Language index 375
- Subject index 377
