Includes bibliographical references and index.

The function of questions in institutional discourse : an introduction / Susan Ehrlich and Alice F. Freed -- The design and positioning of questions in inquiry testimony / Jack Sidnell -- Questioning in medicine / John Heritage -- Interrogating tears : some uses of "tag questions" in a child-protection helpline / Alex Hepburn and Jonathan Potter -- Grammar and social relations : alternative forms of yes/no-type initiating actions in health visitor interactions / Geoffrey Raymond -- Asking ostensibly silly questions in police-suspect interrogations / Elizabeth Stokoe and Derek Edwards -- Pursuing views and testing commitments : hypothetical questions in the psychiatric assessment of transsexual patients / Susan A. Speer -- Questions that convey information in teacher-student conferences / Irene Koshik -- "Is that right?" : questions and questioning as control devices in the workplace / Janet Holmes and Tina Chiles -- Questioning in meetings : participation and positioning / Cecilia E. Ford -- The spatial and temporal dimensions of reflective questions in genetic counseling / Srikant Sarangi -- Questions in broadcast journalism / Steven Clayman -- Questions and institutionality in public participation broadcasting / Joanna Thornborrow -- "I'm calling to let you know!" : company-initiated telephone sales / Alice F. Freed -- "How may I help you?" : questions, control, and customer care in telephone call center talk / Anna Kristina Hultgren and Deborah Cameron.