Turning the Tables: Objecting to Conduct in Conflict Talk

ABSTRACT This article is a Conversation Analytic study of occasions where a speaker formulates what a recipient is doing as something objectionable, thereby delivering an accusation, e.g., “Why you shouting” or “I dunno why you’re being so aggressive.” We call these lexical formulations of what someone has just done conduct formulations. These are: (a) responsive to an ongoing imputation of misconduct or misdemeanor, and (b) produced in response to an upgrade on prior attempts by the recipient to engage the producer of the conduct formulation in aligning with their project. The speaker thereby “turns the tables” on the recipient, challenging the legitimacy of, and thus rendering accountable, his line of action. The response by the recipient involves a downgrade of her prior action and so proposes resetting the terms of engagement on a more conciliatory basis. Data are in English and Italian.