Interactional histories: Introduction to a special issue

Conversation analysis has traditionally focused on the development of interaction order within sequences of social interaction. Expanding this temporal perspective, this special issue explores interactional histories that unfold across multiple interactional events, ranging from several minutes to several years. This introduction presents a theoretical framework for understanding interactional histories, locating them within the temporality of social interaction. It reviews the state of the art and discusses how interactional histories contribute to changes in interactional practices and the emergence of routines and social relationships. It outlines how interactional histories play a role in the achievement of intersubjectivity, in recipient design, and in practices of reference and action formation. It argues that specific methodological requirements for data sampling and analysis must be met when studying interactional histories. Finally, it reflects on how interactional histories contribute to the emergence of social order in interaction and enhance our understanding of members’ competencies.