A Study Of Repair Sequence In Chinese Courtroom Interaction

Repair is a vital mechanism of natural languages. It frequently appears in the courtroom interaction. The study of repair sequence in courtroom is of great importance in both theoretical and practical field. It is significant to broaden and deepen the research of conversational analysis, to describe the features of courtroom interaction, and to reveal the reality of the trials in Chinese courtroom.By analyzing the transcripts of audio/video recordings of 14 courtroom trails totaling more than 700,000 words, on the basis of the basic patterns and structural mechanisms put forward by SJS, the theory of Epistemic Status, and the Principle of Goal in pragmatics, this study proposes a multidimensional model for the repair sequence in Chinese courtroom interaction, respectively from a linguistic, cognitive and pragmatic perspective. The projectable structure of grammatical forms is the explicit linguistic features, the epistemic status embodied in distinct grammatical forms constitute ? a basic resource for the organization of the sequence, and the goal of interlocutors is the most essential property and motive of the sequence of action.It is found that:(1) The data shows that the hierarchy of the frequency in self initiators is Cut-off> Zero Initiator> Stretched Sound> Modal Particle> Discourse Marker> Silence. It shows a preference for implicit initiators of the interlocutors in the courtroom, so as to consolidate the credibility and strength by sustaining the continuity of the utterance. The hierarchy of the frequency in other initiators is Repetition of the Trouble Source> Transformation Operation Question> Wh-question> Silence> Interrogative Word> Request for Repair> Interruption> Zero Initiator> Resistance of the Trouble Source. The distribution of other initiators among the interlocutors is imbalanced. The frequency of other initiations initiated by the judge and prosecutor is much higher than that by the defendant and witness. There is a preference by judges and prosecutors for Repetition of the Trouble Source, Transformation Operation Question, Wh-question and Interruption with a characteristic of conducting control and interference. However, the defendant and witness have a tendency to use more passive and weakly controlled initiators such as Silence, My-fault Request for Repair, and Interrogative Word for inquiring. The data also indicates a difference in the functions of the other initiations among different interlocutors. Judges and prosecutors tend to use initiations for the function of confirmation or disagreement, while defendants and witnesses prefer the elimination of troubles in listening or understanding. (2) The frequency of self-repair is much higher than that of other-repair, which is aligned to the organization of preference for self-repair propose by SJS. The low frequency of zero initiation shows the efficiency and clarity of courtroom interaction. The interlocutors in the courtroom are more likely to eliminate and repair troubles. The hierarchy of the frequency in self-repair strategies is Substitution> Completion> Repetition> Insertion> Explanation> Addition> Deletion. The hierarchy of the frequency in other-repair strategies is Substitution> Explanation> Addition> Completion. Substitution is an economical and less costly strategy. The frequency of other repairs performed by defendants and witnesses is much higher than that by judges and prosecutors. The later choose to use transformation operation questions frequently to put forward candidate repair solution and request for confirmation. (3) Epistemic status is a basic source of the repair sequence in Chinese Courtroom. Interlocutors make choices on repair initiators and strategies based on the three dimension of epistemic status. Self repairs usually are solicited by the change of epistemic stance of interlocutors, which can be embodied by two formats:K-?>K+ and K+?K-. Judges, prosecutors and lawyer follow the format of K?K+ very frequently by upgrading the epistemic stance so as to strengthen the limitation and realize the interactional goal. Defendants and witnesses follow the format of K+?K- frequently by downgrading the epistemic stance so as to skirt round the questions. Under the pressure of questions, defendants and witnesses have no option but to follow the format of K-?K+ by upgrading the epistemic stance. Epistemic status is a vital factor for the functions of initiators. When the epistemic status of the speaker is K-, the action of initiator is inquiry. When the epistemic status of the speaker is K+, the action of initiator is request for confirmation or disagreement. The frequency of other repair by defendants or witnesses is much higher than that by judges, prosecutors or lawyers, and the epistemic primacy is the critical factor of this phenomenon. The imbalance of epistemic responsibilities embodies the imbalance of rights among interlocutors. (4) Goal and goal relations are the most basic principles of the repair sequence in Chinese courtroom interaction. They are decisive factors for the choice of repair initiators and strategies. When the goals of two interlocutors are in conflict, the speaker uses initiators implying challenge and disagreement frequently, and the listener usually gives a incorporative response to refuse repair or shirt round the questions for his own purpose. The structure of interaction is wiggly. When the goals of interlocutors are aligned, the speaker uses initiators with the function of inquiry and confirmation frequently, and the listener usually gives a corporative response to repair the trouble source. The structure of interaction is straight. The original version, the repairable which the speaker begins, can be compared with the eventual version, the repair. The change in design of the turn can be attributed to the fundamental goal of the speaker. The three levels of the modal of the repair sequence in Chinese courtroom is not horizontally equal to each other. There are ranks and layers among them. The epistemic status is a basic resource for the organization of sequence. However, the goal of interlocutors is the motive for the choice of epistemic stance. Repair can appear at the level of the expressing and understanding of the goal and can also appear at the level of the pursuing and responding of the goal.With a combination of both descriptive and explanatory methods, this study attempts to construct a multidimensional model from both a micro and macro perspective.