Evasive Answer As A Pragmatic Strategy In Interview Conversations: An Adaptation-based Approach

The research object in the present study is the deliberate use of evasive answer in interview conversations. Based on the framework generated from Vershueren's adaptation theory, the present study qualitatively analyzes 35 pieces of interview conversations in order to reveal the dynamic nature of evasive answer in terms of its variability, adaptability and functionality.The dissertation mainly investigates the following three questions: 1. the means for actualization of evasive answer in interview conversations 2. the generative mechanism of evasive answer in interview conversations, i.e. the determining factors for its occurrence 3. the pragmatic functions evasive answer has on interview conversations.To conduct the research, the present study starts with the evasive strategies. As a communicative strategy, evasive answer has various linguistic actualizations and speaker will choose the appropriate one to satisfy his communicative needs. The present study explores three main evasive strategies: manipulating the context of the question, manipulating the topic focus and violating manner maxim. Based on these identifications, the study further investigates the generative mechanism of evasive answer and concludes that the choice of evasive answer is the speaker's active adaptation to contextual correlates which consist of the adaptation to interview settings, asymmetric power relations, interviewee's mental world and the normative politeness. And evasive answer mainly performs informational and interpersonal function in interview conversations.Theoretically, the present research hopes to better reveal the explanatory power of adaptation theory; practically, the research hopes to provide interviewees with ostensive information to tackle questions and help them to solve answering problems in interview context.