Echo Utterances

3. Echo Utterances

In the discourse function echo utterances are either questions or exclamations.

1 Recapitulatory echo questions:

a) a yes-no questions or questions which repeat part or all message:

e.g. A: The Browns are emigrating.

B: Emigrating?

e.g. A: Switch the light off, please.

B: Switch the LIGHT OFF?

or

Switch the LIGHT OFF, did you say?

(to make the meaning explicit)

b) a wh-echo questions which indicates, by wh-words, which part of the previous utterance the speaker did not hear or understand;

e.g. A: It cost five dollars.

B: How much did it cost?

or

How much did you say it cost?

I (after wh-element only)

e.g. A: Switch the light off.

B: Switch WHAT off?

e.g. A: His son is a macro engineer.

B: His son is a WHAT?

NOTE: What may replace a verb: e.g.: She sat there and WHAT ted?

Stylistic purpose: to express irony, incredulity, or merely fill a conversational gap.

c) questions about questions:

e.g.: A: Have you borrow my PEN?

B: (Have I) borrow your PEN?

(a yes-no question about wh-question;

a wh-question about a yes-no question;

a wh-question about a wh-question)

2 Explicatory echo questions

They are always WH-questions, which ask for the clarification, rather than the repetition.

e.g.: A: Take a look at this!

B: Take a look at WHAT?

e.g. A: He’s missed the bus again.

B: WHO’s missed the bus?

e.g. A: Oh, dear, I’ve lost the letter.

B: WHICH letter I have you lost?

(do you mean you have lost?)

not «did»

3. Echo exclamations: the form of utterance to be repeated may be declarative, interrogative, imperative, or even exclamative.

Stylistic purpose: to express astonishment, amazement, confusion, wonderment, consternation.

e.g.: A: I’m going to London for a holiday.

B: To LONdon! That not my idea of a rest.

e.g.: A: Open the door, please.

B: Open the DOOR! Do you take me for a doorman?

Note: In the frame of our research we give follow examples from quoted literature, namely:

Examples from Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice:

e.g.: Jane: I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time. I did not0 expect such a compliment.

Elizabeth: Did not you? I did for you.

e.g.: Mr. Bennet. The person of whom I speak is gentleman and a stranger.

Mrs. Bennet’s eyes sparkled.-A gentleman and a stranger! It is Mr. Singly, I am sure. [4; 63]

e.g.: (Mr. Bingley) What think you of books? said he, smiling.

Jane. Books-Oh! no. I am sure we never read the same, or not with the same feelings! [4; 97].

e.g.: Mrs. Bennet. I cannot bear to think that they should have all this estate. If it was not for the entail, I should not mind it.

Mr. Bennet. What should not you mind?

Mrs. Bennet. I should not mind anything at all. [4; 135]

e.g.: Lady Catherine. Has your governess left you?

Miss Bennet. We never had any governess.

Lady Catherine. No governess. How was that possible?

Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have quite a slave to your education. [4; 168].

e.g.: (Colonel Fitzwilliam) «We are speaking of musik, madam,» said he, when to longer able to avoid a reply. Lady Catherine. Of music! Then pray speak aloud. It is all subjects my delight… [4; 176]

Examples from Wilkie Collins. The Women in White.

e.g.: The Count. Gently, Percival-gently! Are you insensible to the virtue of Lady Clyde?

Sir Percival. That for the virtue of Lady Clyde! I believe in nothing about her but her money… [2; 298]

e.g.: Mr. Fairlie…. Inexpressibly relieved, I am sure, to hear that nobody is dead. Anybody ill? «…Anybody ill?» – I repeated (Frederick)… [2; 315]

e.g.: «Where are you going? He (Sir Percival) said to Lady Glade.

«To Marian's room,» she answered.

«It may spare you a disappointment», remarked Sir Percival, «if I tell you at once that you will not find her there.»

«Not find her there!»

«No. She left the house yesterday morning with Fosco and his wife.» [2; 342]

Examples from Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.

e.g. «Are my feathers so very much rumpled? said Eugene, coolly going up to the looking-glass. «They are rather out of sorts. But consider. Such a night for plumage!

«Such a night? repeated Mortimer. «What became of you in the morning?» [5; 167]

e.g.: «Now, Lammle, «said fascination Fledge by, calmly feeling for his whisker, «it won’t do. I won’t be led into a discussion. I can’t manage a discussion. But I can manage to hold my tongue.»

«Can? «Mr. Lammle fell back upon propitiation.» I should think you could! Why, when these fellows of our acquaintance drink, and you drink with them, the more talkative they get, the more silent you get. The more they let out, the more you keep in». [5; 252].

Echo utterances are recapitulatory echo questions, explicatory echo questions and echo exclamations. They repeat as a whole or in part what has been said by another speaker. They may take the form of any utterance or partial utterance in the language. The stylistic purpose is to express irony, sarcasm, incredulity, doubt, astonishment, amazement, confusion, wonder, or merely to fill in a conversational gap.

STYLISTIC POTENTIAL OF THE CONTINUOUS TENSE

1. Expression of anger or irritation with adverbs such «always, every time, continually, constantly, forever»:

e.g. «I am astonished, «said Miss Bingley,» that my fattier should have left so small a collection of books. What a delightful library you have at Pemberley, Mr. Darcy!

«It out to be good, «he replied,» it has been the work of many generations».

«And then you have added so much to it yourself, you are ALWAYS buying books.»

«I cannot comprehend the neglect of a family library in such days as these.» «Neglect!.»

[Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice. 4; 38].

e.g. «Indeed, «replied Elizabeth,» I am heartily sorry for him; but he has other feelings, which will probably soon drive away his regard for mee. You do not blame me, however, for refusing him?»

«Blame you! Oh, no.»

«But you are ALWAYS blaming me for having spoken so warmly of Wickham?» «No…» [J. Austen, 4; 227].

NOTE: In combination with always, continually, or forever, the progressive loses its semantic component of «temporariness» The speaker seems to suggest that «buying books» or «blaming me» are an irritating or deplorable habits.

e.g.: He is CONTINUALLY complaining about the noise Bill is ALWAYS /CONTINUALLY / FOREVER working late at office.

[R. Quirk, 28; 199, 543].

2. Future arising from present arrangement, plan, programme:

e.g.: «A fine evening, Miss Peecher», said the master.

«A fine evening, Mr. Headstone», said Miss Peecher. «Are you taking walk?»

«Hexam and I are going to take a long walk».

[Ch. Dickens. Our Mutual Friend, 5; 206].

e.g.: He (Sir Percival) stopped, and appeared to notice, for the first time, that we were in our walking costume. «Have you just come in?» he asked, «or were just going out?»

«We are all thinking of going to the lake this morning», said Laura. «But if you have any other arrangement to propose»

«No, no», he answered hastily. «My arrangement can wait…» [W. Collins, 2; 203].

e.g.: «If you think I might risk it, Miss, I’d like to slip round to my dentist.» – Oh! what race is being run this afternoon, then, topping?» [Galsworthy, 29; 145].

e.g.: Brain said to his cousin, «I’m signing on as well in a way, only for life.» I’m getting married».

Both stopped walking. Bert took his arm and stared,

«You’re not.»

«I’m. To Pauline. [Sillitoe, 29; 144].

e.g. «I am going forwards, said the stranger, for Frankfort – and shall be back at Strasburg this day month…» –

«Its a long journey, Sir, replied the master of inn-unless a man has great business.»

[Laurence Sterne. Selected Prose and Letters, 21; 171].

e.g. «Right ho! Then brinh me my whangee, my yellowest shoes, and the pod green Homburg. I’m going into the Park to do pastoral dances».

[The Book of English Humor, 16; 85].