Abstract; The starting point of most prior research on action formation and ascription is either; a social action or a linguistic form. In contrast, our study will demonstrate analytic and methodological implications; and cross-linguistic perspectives for Interactional Linguistics research of starting with a; translation issue. In our paper, we compare the use of two formats that are both possible; translations of the German soll; ich, namely should I and ((do) you) want me to. Although both English; formats elicit information that is consequential for the speaker’s agenda (cf. Couper-Kuhlen 2021), we will demonstrate that they are not only used for accomplishing different actions; (e.g., different kinds of offers, requests for specification, candidate understandings), but also differ; in terms of the ownership of the project this proffered; action will contribute to. Our results demonstrate that translation issues within Interactional Linguistics research are not only an important; methodological and analytic matter, but can also open up new perspectives with regard to cross-linguistic and cross-cultural diversity of social actions and; practices for accomplishing them. Our results suggest that speakers of different languages not only differ in how; specific domains of social action (e.g., offers, requests for permission) are realized, but also what; sensitivities are oriented to across languages. Our study thus offers a new avenue for exploring domains of social; actions and their realization across languages.
