The papers in this volume study linguistic structures in the context of their interactive functions and usages; they concentrate on grammatical constructions for the positioning of self and others. Using empirical analyses of positioning constructions, the authors show that forms and functions of grammatical structures in everyday interactions are closely interwoven with the conditions for the production and reception of spoken language. This leads to the methodological conclusion that linguistic phenomena - understood as constructions of varying complexity - cannot be decontextualised but are to be examined in their particular interactional contexts. In the present analyses, therefore, attention is paid both to the mediality and actional reference of linguistic phenomena and to the dialogicity, sequentiality and temporality of the development of linguistic constructions.

In order to take account of the tension between the stabilisation of grammatical constructions and the process of their actualisation in interactions, the authors combine methods from Interactional Linguistics with insights from usage-based positions of both Construction Grammar and Cognitive Grammar.

Autorentext

Susanne Günthner und Jörg Bücker, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster.