Responding to Polar Questions across Languages and Contexts

This book explores the responses to polar questions across ten different languages, examining the relationships between response design, action, and context. It presents a nuanced view of polar responses as a situated social action.

Format: Hardback
Length: 383 pages
Publication date: 27 November 2023
Publisher: John Benjamins Publishing Co

This captivating book delves into one of the most fundamental action sequences found across human societies and socio-cultural contexts: polar questions and their responses. Question-answer sequences, as basic building blocks for sequences of action in interaction, are ubiquitous among the languages of the world. Among the various types of questions, polar questions stand out as the most common, occurring with greater frequency in all studied languages. In this comprehensive volume, a diverse collection of conversation analytic studies explores the rich tapestry of responses to polar questions across ten different, typologically diverse languages, in a range of action environments and social contexts. The studies delve into the intricate ways in which speakers respond to polar questions, shedding light on the relationships between response design, the actions enacted by the responses, and the contextual factors that shape them. Taken together, the studies assembled in this volume present a nuanced and multifaceted view of polar responses as situated social actions.

The first study in the volume examines responses to polar questions in Japanese, focusing on the ways in which speakers navigate the delicate balance between directness and politeness. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The second study takes a cross-linguistic perspective, comparing responses to polar questions in English, German, and Chinese. The authors examine the linguistic and cultural factors that shape speakers' choices of response strategies, such as the use of directness versus indirectness, the preference for certain types of questions over others, and the influence of social status and power dynamics. They also explore the ways in which speakers use language to convey their attitudes and beliefs, and the implications of these choices for intercultural communication.

The third study examines responses to polar questions in Indonesian, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to express their opinions and attitudes. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The fourth study examines responses to polar questions in Spanish, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to convey their attitudes and beliefs. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The fifth study examines responses to polar questions in Korean, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to express their opinions and attitudes. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The sixth study examines responses to polar questions in Indonesian, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to express their opinions and attitudes. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The seventh study examines responses to polar questions in Japanese, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to express their opinions and attitudes. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The eighth study examines responses to polar questions in Indonesian, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to express their opinions and attitudes. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The ninth study examines responses to polar questions in Korean, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to express their opinions and attitudes. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

The tenth study examines responses to polar questions in Japanese, focusing on the ways in which speakers use language to express their opinions and attitudes. The authors analyze the use of hedges, such as "maybe," "perhaps," and "kind of," to soften the impact of direct statements and maintain social harmony. They also explore the cultural norms and expectations that influence speakers' choice of response strategies, highlighting the importance of maintaining face and avoiding conflict.

In conclusion, this volume presents a rich and diverse collection of conversation analytic studies into responses to polar questions across ten different languages. The studies shed light on the intricate ways in which speakers respond to polar questions, exploring the relationships between response design, the actions enacted by the responses, and the contextual factors that shape them. Taken together, the studies assembled in this volume present a nuanced and multifaceted view of polar responses as situated social actions, contributing to our understanding of the complex dynamics of human interaction and communication.

Weight: 830g
Dimension: 167 x 249 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789027214324