1. Presented by Sarah Friedman
Turn-Taking
Presented by Sarah Friedman
April 4, 2005
Based on:
Sacks, H., Schegloff, E.A., Jefferson, G. (1974). A Simplest Systematics for the Organization of Turn-Taking for Conversation. Language, 50,

2. Introduction Report on turn-taking system for conversation
Research using audio recording of naturally occuring conversations

3. Need for a New Turn-Taking Model
Investigators of small group interaction have difficulty explaining behaviors using turn-taking systems
Researchers of “interview” behavior are concerned with
The distribution of talk among the parties
Silences
The way talk shifts from one speaker to another
These researchers dealt with turn-taking
questions, but unsatisfactorily because of
weaknesses in turn-taking models

4. Reasons for Research
Obvious that one party talks at a time, there are techniques for allocating turns, etc.
Can be applied to many contexts

5. Turn Allocation Next turn is allocated by Current speaker
Self-selection

6. Rules Governing Turn Construction
1. For any turn, at a transition-relevant place:
If “current speaker selects next” then the person selected is obligated to take the next turn.
If not, self-selection may be instituted.
Or, the current speaker may continue unless someone self-selects.
2. If 1c occurs, then rules a-c reapply at the next transition-relevant place

7. The System Accounts for:
Speaker change
One party talking majority of the time
Occcurrences of more than one speaker at a time are common but brief

8. Types of Overlap
Accounted for by rule 1b (self-selection): Competing for next turn.
Lil: Bertha’s lost, on our scale, about fourteen pounds.
Damora: Oh[::no::,
Jean: [Twelve pounds I think wasn’t it =
Daisy: [Can you believe it?
Lil: [Twelve pounds on the Weight Watcher’s scale.

9. Types of Overlap (cont…)
Assume you know how the speaker will finish.
A: Well if you knew my argument why did you bother to a:[sk.
B: [Because I’d like to defend my argument.
The speaker added optional elements that can go after completion.
A: Uh you been down here before [havenche,
B: [Yeh.

10. Turn Order/Size Turn Order Not fixed yet it’s not random
Bias: Speaker before the current speaker is selected as the next speaker
Turn Size
Not fixed
Why?
Because of unit types (single-word turns, single phrase turns, etc.)
Because of rule 1C (current speaker can continue) the speaker can produce more than one unit type

11. More on Turns
The length and content of conversations are not specified in advance
Anyone can be the next speaker
Number of parties can vary.
With 4 you can have multiple conversations
Turns begin at “possible completion points”
Repairs exist for errors:
Who me?
Excuse me?

12. Continuous or Discontinuous
Talk can be continuous or discontinuous
Continuous = minimum gap or overlap
Discontinuous = a current speaker has stopped and no speaker starts, and non-talk is a lapse.
J: Oh I could drive if you want me to.
C: Well no I’ll drive (I don’ m//in’).
J: hhh.
(1.0)
J: I meant to offah.
(16.0)
J: Those shoes look nice when you keep on putting stuff on ‘em.
C: Yeah I ‘ave to get another can cuz cuz it ran out….

13. Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Next Speaker
1. “Type of Sequence” parts. (Adjacency pairs).
Examples:
Complaint/denial
Ken: Hey yuh took my chair by the way an’t I don’t think that was very nice.
Al: I didn’ take yer chair, it’s my chair.
Compliment/rejection
A: I’m glad I have you for a friend.
B: That’s because you don’t have any others.

14. Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Next Speaker (cont…)
2. Repeat parts of prior utterance with a question intonation or one word question.
Ben: They gotta – a garage sale
Lori: Where.
Ben: On Third Avenue.

15. Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Next Speaker (cont…)
3. Tag question
You know? Don’t you agree?
4. Introduce social identities
Two couples speaking. An invitation is made by a speaker to go to the movies. The next speaker should be a member of the other couple.

16. Turn Allocation Techniques: Self-Selection
1. Starting First
2. “Second Starters”
R: Hey::, the place looks different
F: Yeah::hh.
K: Ya have to see all ou[r new-*
D: [It does?*
R: Oh yeah

17. Consequences of the Model
Motivation for listening to all utterances in a conversation
To see if you are the next speaker
If you want to speak, make sure no one else was selected to speak
When a new speaker is selected, the speaker has to perform the second part of the adjacency pair.
Shows he understood the prior turn’s talk as the first part