Manual Interventions

Abstract

Drawing on datasets of interactions in which the participants are engaged in manual activities, this article investigates manual interventions—that is, multimodal methods by which Other takes hold of an object that is handled by Self and starts manipulating it in a way that modifies the projected course of action. The analysis shows that manual interventions are achieved by Other first moving into the space in which Self handles the object, then grasping the object and claiming control over it, thereby stopping the ongoing practical action, and finally introducing an alternative way of accomplishing the action. In addition to providing assistance, manual interventions are used for correcting Self’s course of action and preempting projectable troubles. The analysis brings about new understanding about the role of manuality and organization of manual actions in interaction. Data are in Finnish and Norwegian with English translations.