Reinhard Fiehler:
Was sind die Grundeinheiten gesprochener Sprache? Ein altes Problem und ein neuer Lösungsvorschlag
Abstract:
This article revives the question of what the fundamental units of spoken language are. In chapter 2 some answers of current and previous theory are listed. In chapter 3 I argue that turns are the basic units of conversation, although the question of the constituents of a single turn arises. In chapter 4 a turn is broken down into atomistic units: the functional units. A functional unit is the smallest constituent of interaction to which a recipient can ascribe function for the communicative process. Functional units are distinguished into three types: contigently independent, projective and associated. A tentative account of different subtypes is suggested.
