Identifying action: Laughter in non-humorous reported speech

This paper examines the construction of a single action in interaction by means of one of its characteristic features: laughter. It examines laughter in a particular sequential context: direct reported speech which is itself not humorous. It emerges that the laughter plays a pivotal role in the construction of this particular action; furthermore, there is striking evidence pointing to the fine calibration of the production of laughter. There are clear methodological implications for Pragmatics in this consideration of a non-linguistic but pervasive feature of interaction.

► I examine laughter in non-humorous instances of direct reported speech. ► It emerges that laughter is used to construct reported complaints. ► The degree of laughter appears to correlate with the force of the complaint. ► A non-linguistic phenomenon is integral to the construction of the action. ► There are clear methodological implications for Pragmatics.