Situation-Bound Utterances in L1 and L2

Istvan Kecskes

Published by De Gruyter Mouton 2003

Situation-Bound Utterances in L1 and L2

Istvan Kecskes

Volume 19 in the series Studies on Language Acquisition [SOLA]

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110894035

Overview
Contents

About this book

This book focuses on a particular type of formulaic expressions called Situation-Bound Utterances (SBUs). Since the meaning of these pragmatic units is shaped by the interplay of linguistic and extralinguistic factors they can be best accounted for in a theoretical framework which represents a knowledge-for-use conception. A unique feature of the book is that it examines the development and use of a particular type of formulae from new perspectives. The comparison of a monolingual and multilingual approach, and the application of the graded salience hypothesis to SBUs within a cognitive-pragmatic theoretical framework reveal that issues such as the role of context in shaping situational meaning, and the existence of common or similar cognitive mechanisms and knowledge structures responsible for cognitive functions and speech behavior in different languages need revision. As a consequence, the book seeks answer to two main questions: 1) origin and extent of context-sensitiveness, and 2) the development of the particular situational functions of SBUs.

On the basis of recent research it is argued that context affects comprehension only after highly salient information has been accessed. Search for the appropriate meaning stops if the information accessed initially is compatible with the context, and it continues, if it is not. This approach puts the issue of context-sensitiveness of SBUs into an entirely different perspective. It is also discussed that why exactly these utterances started to be used to express those pragmatic functions and not others. SBUs demonstrate better than any other linguistic unit that there is a strong cognitive-linguistic interdependency. The development of certain SBUs can be accounted for through cognitive mechanisms, and vice versa: learning an SBU for a culturally important category can linguistically reinforce the learning of the category itself.

The book uses a cross-linguistic perspective and illustrative examples from several languages which makes its arguments and claims convincing.

Author / Editor information

Istvan Kecskes is Professor and Director of the TESOL Graduate Programs at the State University of New York at Albany, USA.

Reviews

"This book is a must read for whoever is interested in the exploration of fields as varied as theoretical linguistics, cognition, communication studies, pragmatics, second language acquisition, and bilingualism."
François Cooren in: Pragmatics & Cognition 1/2004

Topics

Frontmatter Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	i
Acknowledgments Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
Contents Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	ix
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 1. Lexical and conceptual level Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	15
Chapter 2. A dynamic model of meaning Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	31
Chapter 3. Context and salience Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	55
Chapter 4. The origin of situation-bound utterances Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	79
Chapter 5. Distinguishing features of SBUs Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	99
Chapter 6. Classification and interpretation of SBUs Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
Chapter 7. Creativity and formulaicity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	135
Chapter 8. Conceptual socialization Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	155
Chapter 9. Easy to learn, hard to understand Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	177
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	197
Data sources Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	203
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	205
Subject Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	225

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
Edition: Reprint 2012
Pages
- Front matter: 8
- Main content: 228
Illustrations
- Illustrations: 1
- Tables: 5
Keywords: Spracherweb; Fremdsprachenlernen; Sprechsituation; Konversationsanalyse

eBook

Published: October 24, 2012
ISBN: 9783110894035

Hardcover

Published: November 11, 2002
ISBN: 9783110173581