Conceptualizing Illocutions in Context: A Variationist Perspective on the Meta-Illocutionary Lexicon

Abstract The present study takes a metapragmatics approach to studying language users' conceptualizations of requests and apologies. In particular, two spoken sub-corpora within the BNC COCA were searched for inflectional derivational variants request apology , which are part meta-illocutionary lexicon. retrieved items analyzed with respect frequency occurrence communicative functions in context. Distributions frequencies used as indicators conceptualization, then compared across illocutions sub-corpora. results this suggest that while cross-varietal differences comparatively small, much more distinct. These other findings discussed against background semantic pragmatic characteristics these well relevant cross-cultural social factors involved discussing them. Finally, is characterized by its attempt combine variational pragmatics.