A model of hierarchical meanings in coherent conversation and a study of “indirect responses”

Abstract

A model of meanings in coherent conversation is presented, taking the form of a hierarchy of levels of cognitive interpolations between the stream of behavior and archetypal patterns in conversations. Each level is linked to the others by sets of rules which govern and guide cognitive movement between them. Four sets of rules are identified: rules of information processing which associate utterances and propositions; rules of communication which constitute the relationship between propositions and speech acts; rules of sociation which constitute the relationship between speech acts and episodes; and rules of symbolic interpretation which regulate sequences of episodes. A study of indirect responses in conversation is also reported. The study supports the hierarchical structure of the model and locates the understanding of rules governing the use of indirect responses in a more extensive conceptual framework than was previously available.