Chapter 11. Address, reference and sequentiality in Indonesian conversation
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Michael C. Ewing
Abstract
Indonesian has an open pronoun system that provides speakers with a range of first and second person terms. Drawing on data from informal conversation, we examine second person expressions used for address and reference in sequence initiating actions in multiparty interaction. Previous work on English has shown that address and reference are bound up in the systematics of turn taking, and that these practices are context-sensitive. We show this is also the case for Indonesian and that: (a) variation in sequential placement of person terms does stancetaking work; (b) speakers can choose between long and short forms of a name, with short names regularly used for strong exhorting, often in a double-address structure spanning two intonation units; (c) the availability of multiple second person terms means that, unlike a language with limited second person terms such as English, second person reference can also achieve explicit addressing; (d) indeterminacy in both the structure and social action of an utterance can arise due to the frequency of allusive reference and the flexibility of word order in Indonesian. Our study contributes to current literature by showing how the dynamics of address and reference play out in a language with a much richer and varied set of person terms than English has.
Abstract
Indonesian has an open pronoun system that provides speakers with a range of first and second person terms. Drawing on data from informal conversation, we examine second person expressions used for address and reference in sequence initiating actions in multiparty interaction. Previous work on English has shown that address and reference are bound up in the systematics of turn taking, and that these practices are context-sensitive. We show this is also the case for Indonesian and that: (a) variation in sequential placement of person terms does stancetaking work; (b) speakers can choose between long and short forms of a name, with short names regularly used for strong exhorting, often in a double-address structure spanning two intonation units; (c) the availability of multiple second person terms means that, unlike a language with limited second person terms such as English, second person reference can also achieve explicit addressing; (d) indeterminacy in both the structure and social action of an utterance can arise due to the frequency of allusive reference and the flexibility of word order in Indonesian. Our study contributes to current literature by showing how the dynamics of address and reference play out in a language with a much richer and varied set of person terms than English has.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. N-V-T, a framework for the analysis of social dynamics in address pronouns 17
- Chapter 2. When we means you 35
- Chapter 3. A socio-semiotic approach to the personal pronominal system in Brazilian Portuguese 57
- Chapter 4. Address pronouns and alternatives 75
- Chapter 5. T-V address practices in Italian 99
- Chapter 6. Forms and functions of the French personal pronouns in social interactions and literary texts 133
- Chapter 7. The dynamics of Nepali pronominal distinctions in familiar, casual and formal relationships 151
- Chapter 8. The Chinese pronominal system and identity construction via self-reference 205
- Chapter 9. Pronouns in an 18th century Chinese novel 219
- Chapter 10. Me, myself, and ako 235
- Chapter 11. Address, reference and sequentiality in Indonesian conversation 253
- Chapter 12. Pronouns in affinal avoidance registers 289
- Index 319
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- Chapter 1. N-V-T, a framework for the analysis of social dynamics in address pronouns 17
- Chapter 2. When we means you 35
- Chapter 3. A socio-semiotic approach to the personal pronominal system in Brazilian Portuguese 57
- Chapter 4. Address pronouns and alternatives 75
- Chapter 5. T-V address practices in Italian 99
- Chapter 6. Forms and functions of the French personal pronouns in social interactions and literary texts 133
- Chapter 7. The dynamics of Nepali pronominal distinctions in familiar, casual and formal relationships 151
- Chapter 8. The Chinese pronominal system and identity construction via self-reference 205
- Chapter 9. Pronouns in an 18th century Chinese novel 219
- Chapter 10. Me, myself, and ako 235
- Chapter 11. Address, reference and sequentiality in Indonesian conversation 253
- Chapter 12. Pronouns in affinal avoidance registers 289
- Index 319
