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'I understand'-initiated formulations of the other: a semi-fixed claim to the intersubjective

  • Ann Weatherall
  • , Leelo Keevallik

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    4 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Some language patterns appear fixed at a certain time, enabling their description as grammatical structures. Semi-fixed patterns that routinely accomplish specific social actions constitute more of an analytical challenge. This chapter targets the phrase ma saan aru 'I understand' in Estonian together with the ensuing other-attentive formulation '2nd person expression + a cognitive concept' and argues that it is a semi-fixed expression, a "claim to the intersubjective", that manages a misalignment between participants. While claiming to have successfully accessed the other's motives or feelings, the speaker regularly advances her own agenda through the formulation of the other. This suggests a systematic relationship between cognitive lexicon, grammatical structure, and interactional function, and calls for a language theory that incorporates semi-fixedness.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationFixed Expressions: Building language structure and social action
    PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company
    ISBN (Print)9789027260628
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 10 Dec 2020

    Publication series

    NamePragmatics & Beyond New Series
    Number315

    Keywords

    • Cognitive verb
    • Complement taking predicates
    • Estonian
    • Formulaic language
    • Formulation
    • Intersubjectivity
    • Misalignment
    • Semi-fixed expressions

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