It is increasingly accepted that the grammar of one language is not a stable construct but a constant and dynamic, yet slow process. The two linguistic fields “diachronic grammaticalization” and “interactional linguistics” have shown widely recognized results in empirical studies as well as in theoretical modeling of grammatical dynamics. However, both fields of study are working separately even though research has shown that the two fields share important theoretical foundations. This match is mostly based on a dialogical notion of language. This notion sheds light on the use and the actualization of grammatical constructs in interaction and focuses on the speaker as agents of usage and actualization. We are talking about emergent resources, sedimentation, contiguity, metonymy and structuration of discourse.

This conference facilitates the combination of the two strings of thought in a common reflection on grammar and grammaticalization in interaction. Firstly, we focus on the use of constructions that enable the speaker to organize the interaction at any moment. A second focus lies on the study of the gradual sedimentation and grammaticalization of these resources.

The analysis of concessive constructions - which sometimes show distinctive dialogical characteristics – will be at the center of discussion. Choosing concessivity as the main topic of discussion can be argued for in two ways. Firstly, concessivity enables the analysis of categorial affinities to adversativity. And secondly, concessivity facilitates the continuous study of discursive and pragmatic aspects, for instance restriction, adjustment, correction or rejection. A meeting of representatives of interaction research and grammaticalization shall prove fruitful from an empirical and a theoretical perspective.

June 23th

09.00 a.m.   Welcome

09.15 a.m.   Álvaro S. Octavio de Toledo y Huerta: Multifarious, yet triune: interactive sources of the reinforcer bien in Spanish contrastive discourse markers

10.00 a.m.   Stefan Pfänder / Mario Soto: Sí, medio turbia pero también clara: Recursos de concesividad en situación de contacto

10.45 a.m.   Coffee Break

11.15 a.m.   Salvador Pons Bordería: Interaction in discourse (units): From “Increase of Scope” to a wider perspective

12.00 a.m.   Mar Garachana: Oui, monsieur Junqueras, solo que en Francia ustedes no se comerían un rosco. Exclusividad e interacción en la expresión de la contra-argumentación

12.45 a.m.   Lunch Break

02.15 p.m.   Araceli López Serena: Gramaticalización, interacción, oralidad. Sobre la génesis y el perfil concepcional de la estructura concesiva y eso que

03.00 p.m.   Scott Schwenter: Anti-Concessivity in Spanish and English

03.45 p.m.   Coffee Break

04.15 p.m.   Discussion

June 24th

09.00 a.m.   Bernd Kortmann / Alice Blumenthal-Dramé: Causal and concessive connectors: Typology meets cognition

09.45 a.m.   Oliver Ehmer: Cause, Concession and Focus

10.30 a.m.  Farewell