Priorities in discourse analysis 87Whereas to prospect R, an I must set up specific presuppositions, to prospect
F, an I or an IR pair must simply occur.
Basic structures:
I-prospects-R = I
Challenge = C
I-without-R = I
I R (F)
I (F)
I C = I...
I* C = I...
I R C = I...
PLANES OF DISCOURSE
The F move, by encapsulating, and the I move, by prospecting, are overtly
contributing to the discourse management. They are operating on an interactive
plane of discourse (Sinclair 1981). The R move, in that it fits the presuppositions
of the I to some extent, is also operating on the interactive plane.
The other plane of discourse is the autonomous plane. This is where the
meaning of the discourse is managed; where each new move, once its interactive
contribution has been taken account of, is related to the preceding meaning
as the text has organized it. As Hazadiah (1991) says, the autonomous plane
shows the product of discourse, the shared meaning; the interactive plane
shows the process, the means whereby the meaning is made available for
sharing. Every utterance has a value on both planes.
A challenge breaks the presuppositions and precipitates a new exchange.
It therefore cancels the interactive value of the previous move, leaving only
its contribution to the autonomous plane. The challenge, like the Follow-up,
contains an encapsulation; but whereas the F move is usually terminal in the
exchange, the challenge is initial. In exchanges whose Initiation is a Challenge,
the subject matter becomes the discourse itself.
I was supposed to get up at about seven o’clock
I (Challenge): What do you mean you were supposed to
(data from Francis and Hunston)In the above example, the main clause ‘What do you mean’ is clearly a
query about language, and not directly about getting up.
CONCLUSION
Figure 1 shows a few developments of the original model, notably the
challenge. It is not obligatory for an exchange to contain an F move, but it
is an available option in every exchange. When R is specifically prospective,
F is obligatory.