A Study On Reformulation In The Chinese Courtroom Interaction

This thesis is a descriptive and interpretive study on reformulation as a linguistic device employed in the Chinese courtroom interaction. Based on the authentic data of seven Chinese criminal case hearings, the present research seeks to interpret the relevance achieved by reformulation and the function it serves in courtroom interaction.From the perspective of relevance, we identify two types of reformulation: intra-subject reformulation and inter-subject reformulation, both of which have their own distinct features in achieving relevance and serve different functions. It is found that intra-subject reformulation achieves relevance by virtue of helping the hearer process the utterance preceding the reformulation and it functions as clarification of intended meaning;while inter-subject reformulation achieves relevance by virtue of being an interpretation of a proprositional form or thought and the function it serves in courtroom interaction is demonstration of comprehension.The present research also reveals that judges, prosecutors, lawyers and defendants often employ reformulation as a language strategy to realize their respective communicative goals. It is used to deal with a variety of problems concerning speaking, hearing and understanding in courtroom interaction, enabling a continuation of smooth communication. On the other hand, its employment may strengthen or undermine the users' arguments.It is also hoped that the investigation into reformulation can be useful in throwing light on the intricacies of strategies in courtroom interaction.