134 Advances in spoken discourse analysis
whatever follows it (compare exchange (13) with exchange (27) of the
sample analysis).
2 For a discussion of the way in which the terms ‘statement’, ‘question’
and ‘command’ are used above, see the section on ‘situational categories’
in Sinclair and Coulthard (1975:29ff). It is important to appreciate that
a question, for example, is not always realized by an interrogative.
3 Where an Elicit exchange is referred to above, the term must be taken
to include the three bound-Elicit exchanges: Clarify, Repeat and Re-
initiation.
4 We make no claim that the above definitions cover all the possibilities as
to what acts may be realized by or realize, or what functions they fulfil.
Nor do we claim that the list is complete. Indeed we believe that it is
neither feasible nor desirable to present a complete inventory of all the
acts necessary to analyse every conceivable conversation. Each new set
of data will inevitably require adaptations and additions at act level.
Moves
Acts combine to form moves: each act realizes one element of move structure.
As the table on pp. 125–7 shows, there are eight moves: framing, opening,
answering, eliciting, informing, acknowledging, directing and behaving; the
first three realize elements of structure of Organizational exchanges, and
the other five of Conversational exchanges.
The structure and function of moves
The structure of each move is given in the table on pp. 125–7. It will be
noted that the framing move has an optional signal and an obligatory head,
while all the other moves have an optional signal, pre-head and post-head,
and an obligatory head. The function of each move is most easily seen in
terms of the acts which realize its head, so these are given after each move
heading.
1 Framing: framer
Its function is to mark boundaries in the conversation.
2 Opening: metastatement, conclusion, greeting, summons Its function is to
initiate a conversation (or perhaps close it, if the head is realized by a
greeting or a conclusion), or to impose structure on it in some way, and to
obtain a warrant for doing so. (We also recognize that a greeting and reply-
greeting pair may constitute a minimal interaction.)
3 Answering: acquiesce, reply-greeting, reply-summons, reject Its function
is to indicate willingness to participate in a conversation, or to provide a
warrant for suggestions as to structuring made by the other participant (or
not to do any of these things, if a reject is used).