The Potential of Interrogative Sentences to Generate Conflict
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Abstract
The aim of this paper is to describe how the use of interrogative sentences can contribute to the induction of negative emotions and, consequently, increase the likelihood of conflict or its escalation.
For this purpose, this paper analyses quantitatively a corpus obtained from the recording and transcription of therapy sessions of different Spanish couples. Specifically, for this paper, three sessions corresponding to three different therapy moments of four different couples were selected. This means that 12 therapy sessions and, approximately, 900 minutes of recording were analysed.
Once the interrogative sentences used by the couples have been identified, the following aspects are described and quantified in order to answer the following questions: What is the underlying intention behind the use of these sentences by the couples in these situations? Is there variation in how different couples use them? Do the uses change consistently as the therapy progresses? Is there a correlation between the pragmatic use of these sentences and the specific types of interrogative sentences used in each case?
The analysis reveals a variety of uses depending on the couples. However, it also detects a minority use of interrogative sentences for requesting unknown information and, conversely, a prevalence of uses aimed at making the speaker's position prevail, although through the mitigation allowed by an open statement. Finally, the analysis also shows a strong correlation between the pragmatic use of interrogative sentences and their form.
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Funding data
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Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Grant numbers PID2020-114805GB-100 -
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
Grant numbers MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033
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