Requests for here-and-now actions in Russian conversation

Abstract

Abstract This chapter examines interactional dimensions of requests for material objects and other immediate practical actions in Russian conversation, focusing on the most common form these requests take – imperative verb constructions. Even though the Russian language has a rich variety of constructions for performing requests, imperative requests are ubiquitous across situations and settings. This predominance of imperative requests in Russian appears to be quite unique cross-linguistically, as the majority of studied languages use imperative requests less frequently and only under limited pragmatic conditions. Using video recordings of interactions between family and friends, this chapter shows that “plain” – i.e., unadorned or unelaborated – imperatives are a default or unmarked request form for here-and-now actions. This argument is supported, on the one hand, by a numerical prevalence of imperative requests across various interactional configurations, and, on the other hand, by how agreeing responses to different request constructions are produced. The analysis shows that imperative requests convey a presumption of the addressee’s compliance and availability, and request responses are designed to corroborate or reassert this presumption, enacting and renewing an expectation of willing and unquestionable assistance. Overall, the study advances our understanding of language‑ and culture-specific variations in the organization of collaboration and assistance in social interaction.

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