In:
English Language and Linguistics, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 13, No. 1 ( 2009-03), p. 127-132
Abstract:
It is well known that conversationalists often imitate their own body language as a sign of closeness and empathy. This study shows that in spontaneous, unplanned conversation, speakers go as far as emulating each other's grammar. The use of a family of focusing constructions (namely, the cleft), such as it was my mother who rang the other day , or what I meant to say was that he should go Thursday , was investigated in a corpus of conversation excerpts in New Zealand English. Findings show that clefting is contagious. In other words, if one speaker uses a cleft, others will be likely to do so too.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1360-6743
,
1469-4379
DOI:
10.1017/S136067430800289X
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
2009
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1490686-7
SSG:
7,25
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