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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 proceeding
Chapter
 Peer-review

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.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
Chapter
 Peer-review

Original language

English

Publication milestones

  • Published - 10/12/2020

Publication status

Published - 10/12/2020

Publisher

John Benjamins Publishing Company, Netherlands

Publication series

  • Publication series name: Pragmatics & Beyond New Series
    Number: 315

ISBN (Print)

9789027260628

Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625691
  • Scopus: 85102946940

Host publication title

Fixed Expressions: Building language structure and social action

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