4. The Negotiation of Meaning
The principle of discontinuity
Linguistic meaning is not what the originator puts into the text
Linguistic meaning is not something coded in the text
Linguistic meaning is not what the recipient takes out of the text
Linguistic meaning is the range of interpretations of the text
sanctioned by the descriptive apparatus
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illocution
when fully articulated, is a main clause
compressed language – reader interprets
informal spoken – listener interprets
Written language structure: internalisation of speech – posture
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Each successive illocution
sets up a template within which the next one will be interpreted
1. Either it is interpreted as a continuation of the discourse or it is a different
discourse
2. If a continuation, either it can be intrepreted within the prospections of the
discourse or it cannot
3.1 If it lies the prospections, it will be
fully fitting, if it relates to the prospections in detail
fitting if it is not inconsistent with the prospections
fittable if it can be interpreted as relating to the prospections
3.2 If it does not lie within the prospections, it will be
a challenge if it conflicts with one or more prospections
a deferral if it is interpreted as carrying forward the prospections
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Higher units of discourse: the exchange:
initiations: inform prospects acknowledgement
elicit prospects verbal response
direct prospects non-verbal action
response prospects follow-up
follow-up prospects new exchange
Two-part structure of move
truth value and averral; attribution
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Coherence in the written language; prospection and encapsulation