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Imperative Directives: Orientations to Accountability

Kent, A; Kendrick, KH

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Authors

KH Kendrick



Abstract

Our analysis proceeds from the question that if grammar alone is insufficient to identify the action of an imperative (e.g., offering, directing, warning, begging, etc.), how can interlocutors come to recognize the specific action being performed by a given imperative? We argue that imperative directives that occur after the directed action could have first been relevantly performed explicitly to direct the actions of the recipient and tacitly treat the absence of the action as a failure for which the recipient is accountable. The tacit nature of the accountability orientation enables both parties to focus on restoring progressivity to the directed course of action rather than topicalizing a transgression. Data are from everyday interactions in British and American English.

Acceptance Date Jun 10, 2016
Publication Date Aug 5, 2016
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Research on Language and Social Interaction
Print ISSN 0835-1813
Publisher Routledge
Pages 272-288
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2016.1201737
Keywords conversation analysis, imperative, directive, transgression, progressivity, accountability
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08351813.2016.1201737

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