Under Construction @ Keele 2016 Volume 2 Issue 2 | Page 34

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production and accepts the laughter invitation on line 13, reciprocating the humorous reorientation and signal to terminate through shared laughter. As no further turns are
produced, Charlotte’s response on line 13 acts as the terminal exchange. Despite Ant’s
challenge, video footage shows Ant later accepting the food delivery. The laughter in this
first extract re-framed the dispute and the shared laughter initiates the closing sequence.
Whilst still considered a stand-off, the conflict ended in a positive manner.
Extract 2: M2.S7.E2.J1.Lukewarm tea_(11:15)

1
M: But it’s not cold↑ coz I aven’t even drank it yet
2
cause I- I was waiting for it to cool down.
3
(0.4)
4
M: And,
5
(0.2)
6 → I: You just want the re::ally hot one cause [you=
7
M:
[no=
8
I:=(give me the cold one)
]
9 → M:= because the water in the] kettle won’t be really
10
hot a.hh(h)u(h)u(h).
11
(.)
12
I: Well not now you p[ressed the side=
13 →M:
[ a(h)u:::(h)u(h):::.hhhh=
14 →I:=(h)(h)(h)u(h)::HA(H)U(H)(h)]
15
M:= (.)
UHHHH:(h)u(h)a::](h)
Throughout lines 1-4 Maureen is defensively delivering her account as to why she is
giving Ian her cup of tea instead of making a new one. During Ian’s response on line 6 he
physically turns around to Maureen and smiley voice can be heard. Whilst smiling is a visual
stimulus, smiley voice refers to a particular tone of voice where the speaker’s tone is
indicative of smiling and the smile can almost be heard.28 This tone is also usually a precursor to laughter and demonstrates the speaker’s orientation to a humorous context,29
although on line 7 Maureen has not interpreted this orientation and instead responds with a
serious and defensive response. Following completion of her account, Maureen identifies
Ian’s re-orientation and responds with laughter in order to continue the mitigation. This
immediately changes the dispute and de-escalates the seriousness of the disagreement.
Furthermore, this sequence is reversed when Maureen responds on line 13 to Ian’s
more serious response with her own laughter. Maureen’s reaction acts as the first preclosing sequence to which Ian accepts and laughs heartily to complete the pre-closing.

28

Markku Haakana, “Laughter in Medical Interaction: From Quantification to Analysis, and back,”
Journal of Sociolinguistics, 6 (2002).
29
Markku Haakana,“Laughter and Smiling: Notes on co-occurrences,” Journal of Pragmatics, 45
(2010).