Shifts in focus and scope during argumentation

Abstract

The paper considers how argumentation retains its coherence and suggests that each subconclusion references other subconclusions in several ways. These references can be analysed for distance and canonicality to discover relevance and hence coherence. An argument focus is a small number of subconclusions including the current one, which have small referential distance. When participants choose a conclusion in a new focus to reference, either by attacking, supporting, elaborating or continuing it, then a focus shift occurs. This is marked pragmatically by reference to subjects of current talk, and so pronouns referencing the current focus are prominent. Argument proceeds by referencing from premises to conclusions using inference warrants. The last conclusion can form the next premise in what becomes a chain. All chainable conclusions are within the argument's scope. Scope shift occurs when people feel the debate is not sufficiently deep or broad, and is marked pragmatically by means of references to new subjects or new sources of subjects.