Perspective‐display sequences in conversation

Abstract

This paper investigates a strategy for giving an opinion by first soliciting another party's opinion and then producing one's own report in a way that takes the other's into account. This is done through a three‐part “perspective‐display sequence,” consisting of (1) an opinion query or “perspective‐display invitation,” (2) the reply or recipient's opinion, and (3) asker's subsequent report. This sequence can be expanded through use of the prompt, a secondary query that prefigures askers’ subsequent report and seeks the exact material with which that report can agree. Agreement and other exhibits of affiliation between recipient's and asker's displayed positions are preferred features of the device's use. Thus asker's report seconds or confirms recipient's perspective; at the same time, recipient's position is exploited to reinforce or affirm the position in inviter's report. The strategy of using a perspective‐display sequence is pertinent to situations where cautiousness in giving reports and opinions seems warranted.