A collaborative theory of inversion : irony in dialogue
Date
1991
Authors
Coates, Linda Jane
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Abstract
An inductive study was conducted in order to study inversions in dyadic conversations. An inversion is a discourse event in which the words actually spoken are understood by those involved to mean the approximate opposite of their literal meaning; it is irony that occurs in dialogue. The four tasks used in this study elicited a rich array of 71 inversion from 13 dyads. These spontaneous inversions occurred rapidly and were tightly coordinated. Inversion participants used behaviourial signals to collaboratively create a frame that facilitated comprehending the inversion. Within the frames, inversions were structured into four phases: calibration (wherein participants agreed to accept a viewpoint about the subject matter); delivery (in which the inversion was actually presented); acknowledgement (where the participants conveyed their mutual understanding and appreciation of the inversion); and closure (in which the participants signalled the closing of the inversion frame). The behaviourial signals (e.g., smiling, laughter, facial displays, head nodding and shaking, discourse shift markers) that were used to establish the inversion frame and phases were identified. Overall, the structure of an inversion (i.e., the inversion frame and phases) is created through a collaborative verbal and nonverbal behaviourial signalling system. These signals are used by participants to establish and proceed through the inversion frame and phases.