Retroactive Indexing of Relevance: The Use of Well in Third Position

摘要: Using conversation analysis, this article describes the use of well-prefacing in third position after a question-response sequence. Well as discourse marker has been examined extensively from various perspectives. In well is described indexing “dispreferredness” (Pomerantz, 1984) and “unstraightforwardness” (Schegloff & Lerner, 2009) second (e.g., responses to assessments questions). By examining American British English conversations, present study investigates previously unexamined sequential position, demonstrates that well: (a) retroactively marks prior action (i.e., question) having preliminary impending turn (b) prospectively reason for question.