2134/9348
Jonathan Potter
Jonathan
Potter
Alexa Hepburn
Alexa
Hepburn
Putting aspiration into words: 'Laugh particles', managing descriptive trouble and modulating action
Loughborough University
2012
Laughter
Laugh particles
Aspiration
Action modulation
Conversation analysis
Discursive psychology
Stance
Humour
Linguistics
Language, Communication and Culture not elsewhere classified
Studies in Human Society not elsewhere classified
Philosophy
2012-02-07 13:14:02
Journal contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Putting_aspiration_into_words_Laugh_particles_managing_descriptive_trouble_and_modulating_action/9477125
This paper focuses on the phenomenon of ‘laugh particles’ interpolated within words and
their role in interaction. It starts with an overviewof the phenomenon, suggesting that it is
less analytically presumptive to consider ‘interpolated particles of aspiration’ (IPAs). IPAs:
(a) are objects that may but often do not accompany stand alone laughter; (b) are discrete
and targetable objects; (c) are not propositional; (d) can be used with little disruption of
delivery (order and timing). A series of examples are used to illustrate two uses of IPAs.
First, they can be used to mark one or more lexical items as having some problem or
insufficiency. Second, they can be used as a resource for action formation, inserted into
words to modulate the nature or strength of the action. In both cases, the use of IPAs does
not cancel the use of the words it is interpolated into. In both cases IPAs are designed as
markers or flags of trouble. Alternative accounts for the use of IPAs (that they mark
quotation, that they mark a word as inapposite) are critically explored and limitations of
the idea that they mark the speaker’s stance on the action are outlined.