Chapter 7. Making the implicit explicit
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Christine Paul
Abstract
Semantic underdeterminacy in the form of unformulated syntactic slots is a widely-discussed research theme, even though opinions differ about whether the interpretation is a result of pragmatic processes of free enrichment (e.g., Carston 2004; Recanati 2002, 2004; Sperber & Wilson 1986/1995) or of obligatory processes of the linguistic structure (Stanley 2007). Using a conversation analytic approach, a corpus of narrative interviews can show that interlocutors use a wide range of turns to deal with these forms of semantic underdeterminacy. In narrative interviews, prototypically the communicative functions of these turns (e.g. repair, gaining time or developing the topic) are in relation to the accessibility of possible candidates within the given context. The empirical findings support the relevance theory account of free enrichment.
Abstract
Semantic underdeterminacy in the form of unformulated syntactic slots is a widely-discussed research theme, even though opinions differ about whether the interpretation is a result of pragmatic processes of free enrichment (e.g., Carston 2004; Recanati 2002, 2004; Sperber & Wilson 1986/1995) or of obligatory processes of the linguistic structure (Stanley 2007). Using a conversation analytic approach, a corpus of narrative interviews can show that interlocutors use a wide range of turns to deal with these forms of semantic underdeterminacy. In narrative interviews, prototypically the communicative functions of these turns (e.g. repair, gaining time or developing the topic) are in relation to the accessibility of possible candidates within the given context. The empirical findings support the relevance theory account of free enrichment.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Building categories in interaction 1
- Chapter 2. Ad hoc categorization in linguistic interaction 9
- Chapter 3. Categories at the interface of cognition and action 35
- Chapter 4. Category-building lists between grammar and interaction 73
- Chapter 5. Are new words predictable? 111
- Chapter 6. The Camel Humps prosodic pattern 155
- Chapter 7. Making the implicit explicit 187
- Chapter 8. Online text mapping 211
- Chapter 9. Exemplification in interaction 239
- Chapter 10. The on-line construction of meaning in Mandarin Chinese 271
- Chapter 11. Et cetera, eccetera, etc. The development of a general extender from Latin to Italian 295
- Chapter 12. Morphopragmatics of rhyming and imitative co-compounds in Russian 317
- Chapter 13. Encoding ad hoc categories in Georgian 355
- Chapter 14. French type-noun constructions based on genre 373
- Chapter 15. In a manner of speaking 415
- Chapter 16. Why it’s hard to construct ad hoc number concepts 439
- Index 463
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Building categories in interaction 1
- Chapter 2. Ad hoc categorization in linguistic interaction 9
- Chapter 3. Categories at the interface of cognition and action 35
- Chapter 4. Category-building lists between grammar and interaction 73
- Chapter 5. Are new words predictable? 111
- Chapter 6. The Camel Humps prosodic pattern 155
- Chapter 7. Making the implicit explicit 187
- Chapter 8. Online text mapping 211
- Chapter 9. Exemplification in interaction 239
- Chapter 10. The on-line construction of meaning in Mandarin Chinese 271
- Chapter 11. Et cetera, eccetera, etc. The development of a general extender from Latin to Italian 295
- Chapter 12. Morphopragmatics of rhyming and imitative co-compounds in Russian 317
- Chapter 13. Encoding ad hoc categories in Georgian 355
- Chapter 14. French type-noun constructions based on genre 373
- Chapter 15. In a manner of speaking 415
- Chapter 16. Why it’s hard to construct ad hoc number concepts 439
- Index 463
