Requesting Responsibility

The Morality of Grammar in Polish and English Family Interaction

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Communication, Linguistics, History, British
Cover of the book Requesting Responsibility by Jörg Zinken, Oxford University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jörg Zinken ISBN: 9780190625399
Publisher: Oxford University Press Publication: June 3, 2016
Imprint: Oxford University Press Language: English
Author: Jörg Zinken
ISBN: 9780190625399
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication: June 3, 2016
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Language: English

This book examines requests for action in everyday contexts by analyzing natural video-recorded data of everyday interaction in British English and Polish families. Requests for carrying out little jobs-passing some object or fetching items from the next room -are pervasively relevant in contexts such as preparing and consuming food, caring for and playing with children. Requests therefore provide a useful window onto general qualities of human sociality as well as on aspects of cultural diversity. Jörg Zinken describes features of interactional context that people across cultures might be sensitive to in designing a request. In particular, the other person's locally observable commitment to a shared task emerges as a quality of context that systematically enters into the way a speaker builds a request. He then analyses the relationship between diversity across the grammatical resources of languages, and diversity in the action affordances provided by these structures. Focusing on grammatical structures that exist in Polish but not in English (impersonal deontic statements, a certain type of double imperative, and a grammaticalized distinction between perfective and imperfective verbal aspect), the analyses show that language-specific turn formats can index and project social orientations within the on-going interaction in culture-specific ways. By examining social actions at a fine level of grain, the book points a way toward an understanding of cultural diversity that avoids the pitfalls of cultural relativism.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

This book examines requests for action in everyday contexts by analyzing natural video-recorded data of everyday interaction in British English and Polish families. Requests for carrying out little jobs-passing some object or fetching items from the next room -are pervasively relevant in contexts such as preparing and consuming food, caring for and playing with children. Requests therefore provide a useful window onto general qualities of human sociality as well as on aspects of cultural diversity. Jörg Zinken describes features of interactional context that people across cultures might be sensitive to in designing a request. In particular, the other person's locally observable commitment to a shared task emerges as a quality of context that systematically enters into the way a speaker builds a request. He then analyses the relationship between diversity across the grammatical resources of languages, and diversity in the action affordances provided by these structures. Focusing on grammatical structures that exist in Polish but not in English (impersonal deontic statements, a certain type of double imperative, and a grammaticalized distinction between perfective and imperfective verbal aspect), the analyses show that language-specific turn formats can index and project social orientations within the on-going interaction in culture-specific ways. By examining social actions at a fine level of grain, the book points a way toward an understanding of cultural diversity that avoids the pitfalls of cultural relativism.

More books from Oxford University Press

Cover of the book Cultures of Devotion by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Melancholic Modalities by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Extending Rights' Reach by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Martial's Epigrams Book Two by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Electronic and Computer Music by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Devoted to Death by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book The Zapatista Movement and Mexico's Democratic Transition by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Travels in the Netherworld by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Teaching Beginning Guitar Class by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book A Practical Guide to Recovery-Oriented Practice: Tools for Transforming Mental Health Care by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Music Learning Today by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Realistic Decision Theory by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Wellspring Of Liberty : How Virginia's Religious Dissenters Helped Win The American Revolution And Secured Religious Liberty by Jörg Zinken
Cover of the book Hate, Politics, Law by Jörg Zinken
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy