Retroactive Indexing of Relevance: The Use of Well in Third Position

Abstract

Using conversation analysis, this article describes the use of well-prefacing in third position after a question-response sequence. Well as a discourse marker has been examined extensively from various perspectives. In conversation analysis, well is described as indexing “dispreferredness” (Pomerantz, 1984) and “unstraightforwardness” (Schegloff & Lerner, 2009) in second position (e.g., responses to assessments and questions). By examining American and British English conversations, the present study investigates the use of well in a previously unexamined sequential position, third position, and demonstrates that the well: (a) retroactively marks the prior action (i.e., the question) as having been preliminary to the impending turn and (b) prospectively marks the impending turn as the reason for the question.