Referring as interaction: On the interplay between linguistic and bodily practices

The study targets the interface of linguistic and bodily activities in referring to physically present objects in face-to-face interaction. On the basis of examples from a multi-party encounter between four speakers of Swedish, cases of referring sequences are analyzed, especially those involving demonstrative expressions. Referring to present objects constitutes an embedded action sequence, in which different practices provide solutions to the task of achieving a satisfactory identification of the referent. The larger matrix action sequence involves several interactional steps, such as guaranteeing a common visual focus in order to carry out the reference, as well as the subsequent confirmation by the other participants. The bodily displays used to make the referent salient involve a variety of forms, including pointing, touching, holding, picking up, shaking, and even fetching the object. Nevertheless, the combination of demonstratives and bodily practices may not be sufficient to establish the referent in a way that the participants find satisfactory. Repairs may be initiated and completed with the same type of means as the ones by which referring had been done in the first place, i.e. demonstratives and bodily practices.