Perdu dans la forêt de la terminologie : Réciprocité dans différents domaines d'étude

Abstract

Reciprocity in tandem is usually treated like a norm of behaviour for mutual help and equal distribution of time dedicated to each language. While there has been a long-standing debate about reciprocity in different fields of study and related terms like cooperation, interaction, alignment or conversational adjustments in communication, until recently the tandem principle was almost never related to the debate in other disciplines. And although reciprocity in many of these fields is considered to be of fundamental relevance, only a few contributions have been made to the proposal of definitions which could serve as an operational basis for further research. A discussion about the relation of the norm of reciprocity with other conversational norms or maxims is also missing. This paper discusses different understandings of reciprocity and similar terms in the light of reciprocity in tandem.