Functions of “you” in conference presentations

The construction of a suitable image of the addressee is crucial for the success of academic communication. Unlike in writing, second person pronouns abound in academic and research speech. This paper studies the discourse functions of explicit you-mentions in conference presentations, trying to explain how they contribute to achieving speakers' goals. I also investigate possible differences between native and non-native speakers in the way they conceptualize audiences into their presentations. In general, speakers employ second-person pronouns to impart knowledge, secure shared interpretations, direct the audience's attention to visuals, and reinforce interpersonal links with the audience. Patterns of second-person pronoun use found in NNS presentations are sometimes reminiscent of pedagogic discourses, and show a mitigated use of second-person pronouns for specific functions like expressing positive politeness. However, they also show an enhanced sensitiveness towards the communicative needs of the audience, which translates into a greater awareness and readiness to exploit the communicative potential of the visual modes to ensure the audience's understanding.