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Formulations in Chinese criminal courtroom interaction

  • Xiaodan He

    Xiaodan He received her PhD in Linguistics from Central China Normal University and is currently Associate Professor at Wuhan University of Technology. Her research interests include conversation analysis, forensic linguistics, courtroom interaction, repair and formulation. Her work has appeared in Foreign Language Teaching and Research, Journal of Foreign Languages, Journal of PLA University of Foreign Languages and in edited volumes.

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Published/Copyright: February 1, 2024

Abstract

This study investigates the interactional functions and properties of formulation sequences in Chinese criminal courtroom using the methods of Conversation Analysis. The data corpus for this study are audio recordings of five criminal trials heard in China. I show that (i) in response to opaque answers in the prior turn, the examiner tendentiously formulates the prior description to highlight the implication or inferences, for his or her pragmatic purpose; (ii) the examiner clarifies, redevelops the gist, makes something explicit that was previously implicit in the prior turn; or (iii) shifts the focus of the prior turn to make explicit a presumptive and damaging inference, in hostile examination, or to highlight favorable information in cooperative questioning. A key linguistic property of formulations is that they are preceded by turn initial discourse markers, which serves to indicate the examiner’s neutrality and credibility. Moreover, closed polar questions or tag questions in formulations are used by examiners to invite aligning and positive responses.


Corresponding author: Xiaodan He, School of Foreign Languages, Wuhan University of Technology, Luoshi Road, No. 122, 430070, Wuhan, China, E-mail:

Funding source: Social Science Fund of Education Department of Hubei, China

Award Identifier / Grant number: Project No. 17G013

About the author

Xiaodan He

Xiaodan He received her PhD in Linguistics from Central China Normal University and is currently Associate Professor at Wuhan University of Technology. Her research interests include conversation analysis, forensic linguistics, courtroom interaction, repair and formulation. Her work has appeared in Foreign Language Teaching and Research, Journal of Foreign Languages, Journal of PLA University of Foreign Languages and in edited volumes.

Appendix (from Jefferson (2004))

(0.6)

Silence in seconds

(.)

Micro pause

[ ]

Overlap onset/cessation

___

Stress on underscored syllable

↓↑

Pitch step down/up in following syllable

wo:rd

Syllable stretched out

> <

Talk between symbols is rushed or compressed

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Received: 2023-01-14
Accepted: 2024-01-18
Published Online: 2024-02-01
Published in Print: 2025-03-26

© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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