pragmatics conversation

FloorFloor –The right to speak TurnTurn –The opportunity to speak Turn-takingTurn-taking –The change of speaker Local management systemLocal management system –The convention to organize the right to speak Transition relevance place (TRP)Transition relevance place (TRP) –Any possible change-of-turn point in an interaction Parts of conversational analysis 1

OverlapsOverlaps –The competition of the turn Attributable silenceAttributable silence –The absence of talk when a speaker is given the right to speak BackchannelsBackchannels –Signs to show that the hearer is listening Yeah, uh-uh, right.Yeah, uh-uh, right. Parts of conversational analysis 2

The next turn is taken at TRP.The next turn is taken at TRP. –The end of a structural unit + Pause How the next turn is taken?

To indicate that there is a larger structure to your turnTo indicate that there is a larger structure to your turn –There are three points I want to make. First, … –There is more than one way to do this. For example, … –Did you hear about John’s new car? He.. What if you want to keep talking?

Assumption Assumption – Self’s face is at risk when the other is involved to accomplish something. – The risk appears to get greater if the other is put in a difficulty position. How to avoid the risk How to avoid the risk – Provide an opportunity for the other to stop the potential risky act. Pre-sequence

Pre-request Are you busy? proceed Not really request I need your notebook. Accepted and stop OK Pre-request Pre-request Are you busy? Refused and stop Sorry, yes.

Pre- announcement Guess what happened? proceed What? announcement I won the lottery!! Accepted and stop Great!! Pre-announcement Pre-announcement Guess what happened? Refused and stop Sorry. I am not interested.

Adjacency pair First speaker Second speaker Adjacency pairs

Automatic pattern of linguistic interaction in a conversationAutomatic pattern of linguistic interaction in a conversation The utterance of a first part immediately creates an expectation of the utterance of a second part of the same pair.The utterance of a first part immediately creates an expectation of the utterance of a second part of the same pair. Failure to produce the second part in response will be treated as a significant absence and hence meaningful.Failure to produce the second part in response will be treated as a significant absence and hence meaningful. Adjacency pairs

Sequences sequencesFirst partSecond part GreetingsHow are you doing?Pretty good. Question-answerWhat time is it?About 10. Request-acceptWould you please open the door? Sure.

Insertion sequence: one adjacency pair within another sequencesFirst partSecond part Q1 (request)Would you please mail the letter for me? Q2Does it have a stamp on it? A2Yes. A1 (accept)OK

One type of adjacency pairs.One type of adjacency pairs. Some sets of adjacency pairs are more likely to occur than other sets of adjacency pairs.Some sets of adjacency pairs are more likely to occur than other sets of adjacency pairs. Preference structure

First speaker Second speaker PreferredDispreferred Preference structure

First partSecond part -preferred Second part- dispreferreed invitationacceptrefuse assessmentagreedisagree offeracceptdecline requestacceptrefuse

Devices to indicate a dispreferredExamples Delay/hesitatePause, er, um, ah. prefaceWell, doubtI am not sure; I don’t know Taken YesI’d love to; that’s great ApologySorry; what a pity. Appeal for understandingYou know; you see Make it non-personalEverybody else; out there Give an accountToo much work; no time left Mention obligationI’m expected to do …; I must do … If a second part is dispreferred, it is marked by certain linguistic devices