An Interactional Approach to Relative Clauses in English Conversation

Abstract

In conversation, speakers constantly negotiate in determining turn shapes and organization of turns, often incrementing or cutting off on-going turns. This research is an attempt to characterize interactional properties of headed relative clauses (RCs) in English conversation. To achieve this goal, I classify headed RCs into three types based on the patterns of intonation units. Based on the classification, this research discusses interactional functions of the RCs with the assumption that the choice of RCs is made according to the contingent communicative needs of the interactants in conversation. This study also explores interactional motivations for the occurrence of headed RCs in their sequential contexts. In particular, this research shows that RCs split from the head NPs in separate intonation units function as turn increments produced by contingent needs of interactants. Examination shows that RCs can be characterized in the following terms: (i) RCs as an elaboration device with the function of grounding, (ii) RCs as a device for recipient design, (iii) RCs as a device for retroactive elaboration, (iv) RCs as a device for inviting uptake from the recipient, providing a renewed transition- relevance place when faced with lack of recipient uptake. Finally, this research suggests that interaction-based research on RCs in their sequential contexts can provide a better way of understanding social actions manifested in the choices of RC constructions in communicative contexts.