Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Preferred Second Part

Definition: 

A preferred second part is a second part of an adjacency pair that

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
Source: 
332–336