At the Intersection of Epistemics and Action: Responding with I Know. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mikesell, Lisa; Bolden, Galina B.; Mandelbaum, Jenny; Robinson, Jeffrey D.; Romaniuk, Tanya; Bolaños-Carpio, Alexa; Searles, Darcey; Wei, Wan; DiDomenico, Stephen M.; Angell, Beth
• Is Part Of: Research on language and social interaction. Volume 50:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 268
• Page End: 285
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Linguistics -- Periodicals; Sociolinguistics -- Periodicals; Communication -- Periodicals; 401.4105
• DOI: 10.1080/08351813.2017.1340711
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0835-1813

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We examine I know as a responding action, showing that it claims to accept the grounds of the initiating action but either resists that action as unnecessary or endorses it, depending on the epistemic environment created by the initiating action. First, in responding to actions that presume an unknowing addressee (e.g., correcting, advising), speakers deploy I know to resist the action as unnecessary while accepting its grounds. Second, in responding to actions that presume a knowing addressee (e.g., some assessments), speakers use I know to endorse the action, claiming an independently reached agreement (in this way, doing "being on the same page"). Data are in American and British English.