Comparaison de deux marqueurs d’affirmation dans des séquences de co-construction: voilà et genau
Abstract
This contribution investigates the German response particle genau and the French response particle
voilà within collaborative turn sequences in videotaped ordinary conversations. Adopting a conversation
analytic approach to cross-linguistic comparison, I will show that the basic epistemic value
of both particles allows them to be used in similar sequential environments. When a co-participant
formulates a candidate conclusion in environments where it can be easily inferred from previous talk,
first speakers may confirm the adequacy of the pre-emptive completion by voilà or genau. These particles
may then also be followed by self- or other-repeats. The analyses aim to illustrate that participants
rely on a variety of practices in order to positively assess a pre-emptive completion, and to refute a supposed
binary opposition of refusal vs. acceptance in the receipt slot.