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Discuss examples of autoclitics which mand listener behavior.

a) "Please pass me the salt, if you don't mind."
b) "I think you should go to the doctor."
c) "Can you turn off the lights for me, please?"
d) "You should really try this dish, it's delicious."

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Examples of autoclitics include phrases that modify the listener's behavior by making a command or request more polite, such as adding 'please' or softening statements with 'I think.' Autoclitics mand listener behavior in ways that are socially navigable and aim to elicit compliance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks for examples of autoclitics which mand listener behavior. Autoclitics are modifications in language that change the listener's behavior by modifying the form or function of primary verbal behavior. In the examples provided, such as "Please pass me the salt, if you don't mind," "I think you should go to the doctor," "Can you turn off the lights for me, please?" and "You should really try this dish, it's delicious," the autoclitics serve to soften the command or request, making them more polite and socially acceptable.

The autoclitics function as mands because they are not merely conveying information but are used to influence the listener to perform an action. By adding phrases like "if you don't mind" or "I think," the speaker softens the directive nature of their speech, making it more likely for the listener to comply with the request. The autoclitics prompt a form of social interaction where the listener's behavior is influenced by the subtle cues in the speaker's language.

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