The International 11 (PRINT) 1588 1748-8885, Journal of Us (OMLIME 189 1748-8853 Speech, ronaliage: Article and the Law Power, solidarity and tag questions in crisis negoti Gabriela Beyatriz Rubin Abstract ‘This article examines the use of tag questions in five crisis negotiations to simulta neously minimise power asymmetries and assert influence over subjects. I utilise ‘an Interactional Sociolinguistic approach to identify the discursive functions that different types of tag questions fulfil for the crisis negotiators. I find that facilitative tag questions reinforce a ‘collaborative problem solving’ frame (Tannen and Wallat 1993) and minimise the significance of the subjects negative actions, while soften ing tag questions turn orders into requests to influence the subjects decision-mak- ing. The successful use of tag questions for these purposes allows the negotiator to appear empathic while maintaining control of the overall situation. This article contributes to linguistic and practitioner understandings by 1) operationalising goals like ‘rapport’ and ‘influence’ and 2) identifying the functions that tag ques tions can serve in this high-stakes interactional context. KEYWORDS: CRISIS NEGOTIATION, HOSTAGE NEGOTIATION, TAG QUISTIONS, INFLUENCE, RAPPORT ifation Georgetown University, USA ‘email gbr6qeorgetownedu Uist voL ag 2017 45-65 hupssfdoiorg/10.1558/isL31003 EQUINOX (©2017, EQUINOX PUBLISHING46 TIEINTBENATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANG ye AND Meg 1. Introduction Power dynamics are central 10 our expect ian interactions. We assume that institut able positions of power over th ations regardin ional represen