ABSTRACT
The aim of this chapter is to investigate how the linguistic variants of the PRICE lexical set (vowels found in words like price and right) are indexed to interactional identities. The first section outlines statistical results that highlight patterns of variation that deserve more attention and interpretations: in many cases, the PRICE offset is retracted and lowered in Information Talk interactions that are epistemic-based (i.e. speakers displaying knowledge, authority or expertise). Section 2 describes in detail three salient discourse functions of the lower and retracted offset variant: inferring a position of knowledge or authority, quoting other authoritative positions, and asserting authority in a conversation. The conclusion discusses how the interactional identities that speakers align to and construct in talk relate to the wider sociocultural frame in which the study is situated.
