Definition
A preferred second part is a second part of an adjacency pair that
- consists of a sort of response to the first part that is not avoided by participants, and
-
is less likely than a dispreferred second part to be formally marked by such features as
Discussion
Preferred second parts are frequently indistinguishable from prearrangements except by context.
Examples
- An acceptance in response to a request, offer, or invitation
- An agreement in response to an assessment
- An expected answer in response to a question
- A denial in response to blame
Sources 1
- Levinson 1983, 332–336