Displaying entitlement in sister talk: Invoking affection and third-party authority in guan sequences

This study examines four interactional episodes between two sisters (aged 20 and 10) in a Chinese-Australian family, where one takes action to guan – to intervene in and manage – the other’s (mis)behaviour in the absence of their parents. Drawing on interactional pragmatics and membership categorisation analysis, this paper investigates (1) how the two sisters actively participate in guan sequences and (2) how their ongoing orientation to entitlements with respect to guan is displayed and negotiated in interaction. The analysis focuses on two relational accounting practices, through which the sisters attempt to legitimise either their guan practices or perceived problematic behaviour: (i) showing care for each other’s well-being and (ii) referring to the absent mother. In doing so, they (re)frame the behaviour intervention and management as driven by affection or as (dis)aligning with parental expectations, invoking affective entitlement or higher authority to solicit compliance or concession, although this does not always succeed.