The Linguistic Dynamics of Support

Few studies have examined the relationships that develop in situ between support professionals and those they support in vocational retraining situations. To address this gap in the literature, this paper examines the way in which support plays out in a real interactive situation. First, some generic aspects of support situations will be outlined (including the open and unpredictable character of the dialogue, goal orientations, and the asymmetry of roles). Second, the anticipatory nature of support situations, which are forward-looking and focused on decisions concerning future actions, will be underlined and analytical categories put forward. Finally, a real support situation will be analyzed using these categories. The context in which the analysis takes place is a vocational training community organization that incorporates social economic values and has a dual mission to integrate and train the low-skilled, long-term unemployed. In terms of methodology, the analytical tools are drawn from the field of interactional sociolinguistics and mediated discourse analysis. A close analysis of support interactions identifies some salient aspects of social support activities and reflects a number of dilemmas and controversies associated with the profession.