Chapter 2
Ad hoc categorization in linguistic interaction
The aim of this paper is to describe and explain the
role that linguistic interaction plays in category construction and
communication, by looking at naturally occurring data of spoken
language. First, it will be argued that there is a way of building
categories that is inherently interactional and indexical, namely ad
hoc categorization. Ad hoc categorization will be defined as a
bottom-up exemplar driven process, that is dependent on context for
both its construction and its interpretation, and crucially relies on
non-exhaustivity and exemplification. After a brief overview of the
linguistic strategies that may encode ad hoc categorization, we will
concentrate on linguistic interaction, taking the perspective of
so-called languaging. It will be shown that categorization is
frequently instrumental to intersubjective aims, such as mutual
agreement, negotiation, and the general management of the speakers’
reciprocal positioning. In turn, it is collaboration between the interlocutors
that allows to fine-tune categorization and achieve mutual
understanding. Finally, we will focus on the incrementality of ad hoc
categorization in interaction along two dimensions, namely, the
identification of the category borders and the progressive anchoring
of the category to the interlocutors’ experience.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.The indexicality of categorization
- 2.1Ad hoc categorization and the role of context
- 2.2The linguistic expression of ad hoc categorization
- 3.The languaging perspective: Category construction in interaction
- 4.Incremental ad hoc categorization: Zooming in and outside categories in discourse
- 4.1Identifying the category core and pushing the category
borders
- 4.2Beyond the borders: Ad hoc categorization of the outside
- 4.3Progressive zoom into the interlocutors’ experience
- 5.Conclusions
-
Acknowledgements
-
Notes
-
References
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Fedriani, Chiara & Piera Molinelli
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