Functional Diversification and Progressive Routinization of a Multiword Expression in and for Social Interaction: A Longitudinal L2 Study

In this article, we bring together conversation analysis and usage-based linguistics to investigate the second language (L2) developmental trajectory of a linguistic construction within complex multimodal ecology naturally occurring social interaction. We document how, over course 15 months, an L2 speaker's use French multiword expression comment on dit [how do you say] diversifies in both form function. Two types longitudinal change are observed: (a) The expands its context use: “Literal” uses observed initially request candidate lexical item but later also found requests for confirmation, (b) these literal become proportionally less frequent, progressively routinizes as marker-like element used indexing cognitive search floor-holding, eventually preface self-correction. This routinization entails erosion meaning, concert with systematic co-occurring bodily-visual conduct, particular gaze gesture. By documenting time functional delivery target construction, findings evidence development grammar-for-interaction showcase how bodily resources may interface development. They have important implications teaching learning.