Person reference in interaction : linguistic, cultural, and social perspectives / edited by N.J. Enfield and Tanya Stivers.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Enfield, N. J., 1966-

Stivers, Tanya

Series:

Language, culture, and cognition ; 7.

Language, culture, and cognition ; 7

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Reference (Linguistics).

Language and culture.

Physical Description:

x, 358 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, UK ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Summary:

How do we refer to people in everyday conversation? No matter the language or culture, we must choose from a range of options: full name ('Robert Smith'), reduced name ('Bob'), description ('tall guy'), kin term ('my son'), epithet ('birthday boy'), etc. Our choices reflect how we know that person in context, and allow us to take a particular perspective on them. This book brings together a team of leading linguists, sociologists and anthropologists to show that there is more to person reference than meets the eye. Drawing on video-recorded, everyday interactions in nine languages, it examines the fascinating ways in which we exploit person reference for social and cultural purposes, and reveals the underlying principles of person reference across cultures from the Americas to Asia to the South Pacific. Combining rich ethnographic detail with cross-linguistic generalizations, it will be welcomed by anyone interested in the relationship between language, cognition and culture.

Contents:

1 Person reference in interaction / Tanya Stivers, N.J. Enfield, Stephen C. Levinson 1

Part I Person reference as a system 21

2 Two preferences in the organization of reference to persons in conversation and their interaction / Harvey Sacks, Emanuel A. Schegloff 23

3 Optimizing person reference - perspectives from usage on Rossel Island / Stephen C. Levinson 29

4 Alternative recognitionals in person reference / Tanya Stivers 73

5 Meanings of the unmarked: how 'default' person reference does more than just refer / N. J. Enfield 91

Part II The person reference system in operation 121

6 Conveying who you are: the presentation of self, strictly speaking / Emanuel A. Schegloff 123

7 Person reference in Yucatec Maya conversation / William F. Hanks 149

8 Principles of person reference in Tzeltal conversation / Penelope Brown 172

9 The interactional meanings of quasi-pronouns in Korean conversation / Sun-Young Oh 203

10 Person reference in Tzotzil gossip: referring dupliciter / John B. Haviland 226

Part III The person reference as a system in trouble 253

11 Intersubjectivity and progressivity in person (and place) reference / John Heritage 255

12 Repairing person reference in a small Caribbean community / Jack Sidnell 281

13 Reference and 'reference dangereuse' to persons in Kilivila: an overview and a case study / Gunter Senft 309.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 338-352) and index.

ISBN:

0521872456

9780521872454

OCLC:

75087971

Online:

Publisher description