Clause-combining and the sequencing of actions
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Simona Pekarek Doehler
Abstract
This paper extends recent discussions on projector constructions to another language (French), and to a further set of linguistic formats. I propose a reanalysis, in the light of the sequential organization of actions, of the je veux dire ‘I want to say’+ complement clause pattern, the il y a ‘there is’ presentational cleft and the pseudocleft construction. I first identify a recurrent constructional schema consisting of an initial ‘fragment’ (je veux dire, il y a NP or ce qui/ce que x) followed by a syntactically independent stretch of talk. I then show that these fragments routinely accomplish a specific social action, namely projecting upcoming talk. By means of these projector constructions, speakers recipient-design their turns, helping recipients to monitor through the complex architecture of talk. I conclude by discussing implications regarding the on-line character of grammar.
Abstract
This paper extends recent discussions on projector constructions to another language (French), and to a further set of linguistic formats. I propose a reanalysis, in the light of the sequential organization of actions, of the je veux dire ‘I want to say’+ complement clause pattern, the il y a ‘there is’ presentational cleft and the pseudocleft construction. I first identify a recurrent constructional schema consisting of an initial ‘fragment’ (je veux dire, il y a NP or ce qui/ce que x) followed by a syntactically independent stretch of talk. I then show that these fragments routinely accomplish a specific social action, namely projecting upcoming talk. By means of these projector constructions, speakers recipient-design their turns, helping recipients to monitor through the complex architecture of talk. I conclude by discussing implications regarding the on-line character of grammar.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
- N be that -constructions in everyday German conversation 11
- Interrogative “complements” and question design in Estonian 37
- Syntactic and actional characteristics of Finnish että -clauses 69
- Clause-combining and the sequencing of actions 103
- A note on the emergence of quotative constructions in Japanese conversation 149
- Clines of subordination – constructions with the German ‘complement-taking predicate’ glauben 165
- Are kara ‘because’-clauses causal subordinate clauses in present-day Japanese? 191
- Teyuuka and I mean as pragmatic parentheticals in Japanese and English 209
- Name index 239
- Subject index 243
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
- N be that -constructions in everyday German conversation 11
- Interrogative “complements” and question design in Estonian 37
- Syntactic and actional characteristics of Finnish että -clauses 69
- Clause-combining and the sequencing of actions 103
- A note on the emergence of quotative constructions in Japanese conversation 149
- Clines of subordination – constructions with the German ‘complement-taking predicate’ glauben 165
- Are kara ‘because’-clauses causal subordinate clauses in present-day Japanese? 191
- Teyuuka and I mean as pragmatic parentheticals in Japanese and English 209
- Name index 239
- Subject index 243
