Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

RESPONSE TOKENS  

95

General   

95a

Some adjectives and adverbs are many times more common in spoken language

than in written language because of their frequent use as response tokens. These

include absolutely, certainly, definitely, fine, good, great, indeed, really. In spoken

188 | From utterance to discourse

Cambridge Grammar of English

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grammar, the term ‘response token’ better describes their function of referring to a

whole preceding utterance rather than their word-class identity as adjectives or

adverbs:

A: We’ve decided to go to Greece this year, probably in early June.

B: Really. That sounds nice. 

A: That’s a fair comment, isn’t it?

B: Absolutely.

A: It’s more for the kids, isn’t it?

B: You think so?

A: Yeah definitely.

A: I reckon she won’t last long in that job.

B: Possibly.

A: She’s obviously going to tear it up and throw it in the bin.

B: Precisely.

A: Well, you wear a little black dress to clubs or to a party.

B: Yeah exactly.

Some response tokens are strongly associated with particular contexts. Fine most

typically occurs in making arrangements and reaching decisions. Certainly most

typically occurs in reply to a request for a service or favour (compare definitely in

the example above, which, although close in meaning to certainly, strengthens the

force of a response and would be inappropriate in the restaurant context below):

A: Okay. I’ll see you a bit later then.

B: Fine.

A: In the morning, whenever.

[to a waiter]

A: Can I have the bill please?

B: Yes, certainly.

(B: Yes, definitely.)

Adjectives such as excellent, fine, great, good, lovely, right, perfect offer positive

feedback to the speaker and often mark the boundaries of topics where speakers

express their satisfaction with phases of business such as making arrangements,

agreeing on courses of action, and marking the satisfactory exchange of

information, goods and services:

[at a travel agent’s; A is the assistant]

A: There you go. There’s your ticket. And your accommodation there.

Insurance, and just some general information. 

B: Excellent. Right. 

[dealer (A) and customer (B) in a car spare-parts depot]

A: I’ll get one of the lads in to come and do it for you.

B: Lovely.