Bedeutungskonstitution als Zusammenspiel zwischen Kognition und Interaktion

Abstract

Conversation analysis and cognitive semantics each throw a different light on the phenomenon of meaning constitution in everyday conversation. Ethnomethodologically oriented conversation analysis focuses on the construction of meaning in empirically detectable, interactively produced social reality (cf. Heritage 1984: 232). In contrast, cognitive semantics is trying to model individual mental processes. This paper aims at connecting both approaches (cognition and interaction) hoping to establish an analytical model for a comprehensive analysis of spoken language. The cognitive aspect in this paper is based on the blending theory of Fauconnier and Turner (1998: 134ff.) while the interaction aspect builds to the conversation analysis approach, in particular on Sacks et al. (1974) and Clark (1996). It should be noted that comparable attempts have already been made by Deppermann (2006) and Liebert (1997). However, the paper does not enter uncharted territory: Already Liebert (1997), Deppermann (2006, 2007), Ehmer (2012), Hougaard (2008), Oakley and Coulson (2008) as well as Cienki (2008) have been connecting cognition and interaction and demonstrated that there exists a synergetic potential between both approaches (cf. Deppermann 2006: 11ff.; 2007; Liebert 1997: 180ff.; Ehmer 2012). Based on the analysis of a political talk show, this paper aims at demonstrating some of these connections. Furthermore, it points out the problems that become visible from the synthesis provided here.