108 Advances in spoken discourse analysis
‘Elicit:commit’
There is yet another subcategory of Elicitation which differs from the above
three subcategories in that it elicits more than just a verbal response from
the addressee. It also elicits commitment of some kind. Let us identify it as
‘Elicit:commit’ for want of a better label. Consider the following example:
52 (C:1:A:4:1)
→ J: Can I talk to you?
S: Sure. Come in. Let’s close the door. Have a seat.
The purpose of J’s Elicitation is not just to elicit a ‘yes’ answer from S, but
also to get S to commit herself to a talking session. As Goffman (1981)
points out, the intent of the question ‘Have you got a minute?’ is to open
up a channel of communication which stays open beyond the hoped-for
reply that satisfies the opening. In other words, in (52), the interaction is
not completed at the production of a response from S, but rather at the
production of a series of exchanges. The following example is, therefore,
odd:
53 A: Can I ask you a question?
B: Sure.
?A: Ø
Hence this kind of Elicitation not only invites an obligatory response but
also invites commitment on the part of the addressee to further interaction.
Another kind of Elicitation which can be considered an Elicit:commit is
that realized by the type of wh-interrogative discussed above (see examples
10 and 11 ) which invites the addressee to enter into a contract with the
speaker. The following is another example:
54 (B:C:A:5:1–2)
→ X: Where shall I meet you?
H: Well, ah I’ll be finished with class at five. It is right in Tsimshatsui,
so maybe we’ll meet you at the Peninsula, between say five-fifteen
and five-thirty?
X: OK wonderful.
As I have already pointed out above, utterances like X’s Elicitation above
initiate an exchange in which the speaker endorses the ‘information’ elicited
in the third part. Once the endorsement is given both the speaker and the
addressee have committed themselves to a future action.
This subcategory of Elicitation bears strong similarity to ‘requests’ in
the sense that if responded to positively, it will involve commitment to a
further action or a further exchange. There is nevertheless an important