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Chapter 6. Requests for here-and-now actions in Russian conversation

  • Galina B. Bolden
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Imperative Turns at Talk
This chapter is in the book Imperative Turns at Talk

Abstract

This chapter examines interactional dimensions of requests for material objects and other immediate practical actions in Russian conversation, focusing on the most common form these requests take – imperative verb constructions. Even though the Russian language has a rich variety of constructions for performing requests, imperative requests are ubiquitous across situations and settings. This predominance of imperative requests in Russian appears to be quite unique cross-linguistically, as the majority of studied languages use imperative requests less frequently and only under limited pragmatic conditions. Using video recordings of interactions between family and friends, this chapter shows that “plain” – i.e., unadorned or unelaborated – imperatives are a default or unmarked request form for here-and-now actions. This argument is supported, on the one hand, by a numerical prevalence of imperative requests across various interactional configurations, and, on the other hand, by how agreeing responses to different request constructions are produced. The analysis shows that imperative requests convey a presumption of the addressee’s compliance and availability, and request responses are designed to corroborate or reassert this presumption, enacting and renewing an expectation of willing and unquestionable assistance. Overall, the study advances our understanding of language‑ and culture-specific variations in the organization of collaboration and assistance in social interaction.

Abstract

This chapter examines interactional dimensions of requests for material objects and other immediate practical actions in Russian conversation, focusing on the most common form these requests take – imperative verb constructions. Even though the Russian language has a rich variety of constructions for performing requests, imperative requests are ubiquitous across situations and settings. This predominance of imperative requests in Russian appears to be quite unique cross-linguistically, as the majority of studied languages use imperative requests less frequently and only under limited pragmatic conditions. Using video recordings of interactions between family and friends, this chapter shows that “plain” – i.e., unadorned or unelaborated – imperatives are a default or unmarked request form for here-and-now actions. This argument is supported, on the one hand, by a numerical prevalence of imperative requests across various interactional configurations, and, on the other hand, by how agreeing responses to different request constructions are produced. The analysis shows that imperative requests convey a presumption of the addressee’s compliance and availability, and request responses are designed to corroborate or reassert this presumption, enacting and renewing an expectation of willing and unquestionable assistance. Overall, the study advances our understanding of language‑ and culture-specific variations in the organization of collaboration and assistance in social interaction.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Imperative turns at talk 1
  4. Part 1. Structure and use of imperative turns
  5. Chapter 2. A cline of visible commitment in the situated design of imperative turns 27
  6. Chapter 3. Precision timing and timed embeddedness of imperatives in embodied courses of action 65
  7. Chapter 4. Secondary and deviant uses of the imperative for requesting in Italian 103
  8. Chapter 5. Three imperative action formats in Danish talk-in-interaction 139
  9. Chapter 6. Requests for here-and-now actions in Russian conversation 175
  10. Part 2. Sequences with imperative turns
  11. Chapter 7. In the face of resistance 215
  12. Chapter 8. Imperatives and responsiveness in Finnish conversation 241
  13. Chapter 9. Negotiating deontic rights in second position 271
  14. Part 3. Sequences with imperative turns in asymmetric situations
  15. Chapter 10. Imperatives in Swedish medical consultations 299
  16. Chapter 11. Assigning roles and responsibilities 325
  17. Chapter 12. Managing compliance in violin instruction 357
  18. Chapter 13. Adjusting the design of directives to the activity environment 381
  19. Chapter 14. Epilogue 411
  20. Appendix. Transcription conventions 425
  21. Name index 429
  22. Subject index 433
https://doi.org/10.1075/slsi.30.06bol

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Imperative turns at talk 1
  4. Part 1. Structure and use of imperative turns
  5. Chapter 2. A cline of visible commitment in the situated design of imperative turns 27
  6. Chapter 3. Precision timing and timed embeddedness of imperatives in embodied courses of action 65
  7. Chapter 4. Secondary and deviant uses of the imperative for requesting in Italian 103
  8. Chapter 5. Three imperative action formats in Danish talk-in-interaction 139
  9. Chapter 6. Requests for here-and-now actions in Russian conversation 175
  10. Part 2. Sequences with imperative turns
  11. Chapter 7. In the face of resistance 215
  12. Chapter 8. Imperatives and responsiveness in Finnish conversation 241
  13. Chapter 9. Negotiating deontic rights in second position 271
  14. Part 3. Sequences with imperative turns in asymmetric situations
  15. Chapter 10. Imperatives in Swedish medical consultations 299
  16. Chapter 11. Assigning roles and responsibilities 325
  17. Chapter 12. Managing compliance in violin instruction 357
  18. Chapter 13. Adjusting the design of directives to the activity environment 381
  19. Chapter 14. Epilogue 411
  20. Appendix. Transcription conventions 425
  21. Name index 429
  22. Subject index 433
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