What is a prearrangement?

Definition
	A prearrangement is a presequence in which an attempt is made to arrange for later contact, as by means of a question-answer sequence determining the availability of one of the participants.

Discussion
	Prearrangements are frequently indistinguishable from preinvitations except in context.

Example (English)

In the following exchange, the prearrangement is expressed by means of a question-answer sequence determining the availability of one of the participants:

A: Erm, what are you doing today?

B: Er, well, I’m supervising at quarter past.

A: Er, yuh, why don't, er, would you like to come by after that?

B: I can't, I'm afraid, no.

Adapted from:

Levinson 1983 347

Generic
	A prearrangement is a kind of
	What is a presequence?

Source
	Levinson 1983 347–348

Context for this page:

Concept module: pre-arrangement
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): P
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004