We begin this chapter with some conversational data, which come from the start of a neighbourhood mediation session. Three neighbours (Henry, Gilbert and Margaret), involved in a dispute about their communal garden, have met with two mediators (Joe and Lucy). The purpose of the meeting is to attempt to resolve the dispute:

Extract 4.1: Mediation session

Joe: So do you want to look at, what hasn't worked with the old agreement? Or do you want to sort of say what has happened since?

Henry: Well, there's quite a bit that hasn't worked really.

Gilbert: Well, you know what pampas grass is, that razor grass …

Joe: Are we going to start from the beginning, yeah?

Lucy: I think we'll probably start afresh.

Joe: Yeah, so three stories …

Gilbert: THIS WOMAN – this woman is trying to nick the garden from the other tenants in the house …

Joe: Hold on, wait a minute, you can't use that ‘this woman is trying to’ …

Gilbert: Well that's what she's doing, that's why we are here.

Joe: Yeah, I know, but you must speak for yourself, your problems. You've got to talk about the behaviour she's doing, you can't tell her that's what she thinks. So are you going to make a start first, okay?

Gilbert: All right, well, she planted the garden like a minefield, y'know, it's a dangerous garden. She put dangerous plants in there, right, spiky teary plants from the razor weeds that she grows to all the other little things ((continues with story))