Grammar and Interaction; Reported Discourse and Subjunctive in German

Abstract

The present study investigates the relationship between grammar and interaction, specifically, the forms and interactional functions of direct and indirect discourse in spoken German. The study demonstrates that quotatives and the grammatical form of quotes are context-sensitive; that is, depending on the current actions (either providing background information, telling stories, telling troubles, or giving explanations), interactants select different quotation formats. The use of the subjunctive or Konjunktiv is only one of several quotation formats used by speakers in interaction for very specific social purposes; these social purposes are oriented to as such by coparticipants. © 2002, by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. All rights reserved.