CONVERSATIONAL ANALYSIS Eros Meliana Sofa Eva Istiyani Wisdiyan Hadi Turasno

Topical organization of conversation Background Conversation is a way of using language socially, of ‘ doing things with words’ together wth oter persons. language Topical organization of conversation Content Content What is it about Topic discussed How they construct

The structure of conversations Openings Initiating exchanges that establish social relations Middle Topic negotiation and development Turn taking mechanics Feedback Closings Pre-closing exchanges

Let’s see the conversation text… The text helps us experience in practice how conversation analysts work. Read the conversation and then let’s analyze the following questions… What appears to be the purpose of the conversation? What topics are discussed? How are topics introduced?

What appears to be the purpose of the conversation? Informal chat between two young men (they are catching up on each other’s news) The purpose of the conversation is primarily INTERACTIONAL (Brown and Yule 1983) to obtain good or services, to organize some sort of action, to pass on real information Transactional used when people relate to each other Interactional

What topics are discussed? A range of topics: dogs, snow, little Mr. Hudd, going to the States, Andrew’s mum, how long Andrew is going to stay. Each of the speakers speaks 8 times = 16 utterances and 6 topics! The topics change very quickly and in fact one topic is often dealt with in the space of 2 utterances.

How are topics introduced? The topics are introduced in 2 ways: statements We’re off to the States on holiday as well questions You had a visitor the other night, little Mr Hudd? the form of the utterance looks like a statement but, the rising intonation at the end of the utterance implies to the listener that this is a question that needs answering. David introduces more topics. On line 6, D.’s question functions as a device to check A’s interaction rather than a genuine enquiry. When A. replies “yeah, yeah I was” and seems to be ready to add more information, he’ interrupted by D. who wants to display what he already knows rather than to listen to what he might not know.

Building the conversation The two men, however, build the conversation together. A. answers every question set by D. He allows D. to interrupt him After an interruption, he makes no attempt to return to his original topic He continues with D. D. appreciates the remark A. makes about the drive from Warrington wit his remark ‘bloody hell (.) he must have been moving’ He ads ‘yeah’ twice to encourage A. in what he’s saying.

Definition of Conversation Analysis Sacks, Schegloff and Jefferson (1974) C.A. derives from sociology and ethnomethodology. It argues that conversation has its own dynamic structure and rules. Conversation is organized in sequences. CA. studies the organization of conversation. CA. Capture the structuring that people practise when carrying on a conversation. Conversational structure is methods used by speakers to structure conversation efficiently or management of conversational turn.

Main Points of Conversational structure To keep the flow of conversation going To avoid ‘conversational accidents’ and ‘conversational traffic jam’ Describes how the interactants negotiate the exchange of meanings in dialogue Main Points of Conversational structure Some fields of interest of CA: The way people take turns What turn-types there are

Conversational Structure Turn Sequence A turn is a time during which a single participant speaks, within a typical, orderly arrangement in which participants speak with minimal overlap and gap between them. A sequence is a unit of conversation that consists of two or more and adjacent functionally related turns.

Overlap in conversation Situation: Student and his girlfriend's father during their first meeting Mr. Strait : What's your major, Dave? Dave : English - well I haven't really decided yet. (3 seconds silence) Mr. Strait : So - you want to be a teacher? Dave : No - not really - well not if I can help it. (2 seconds silence) Mr. Strait : Wha-//Where do you-- //go ahead Dave : I mean it's a--oh sorry //I em- Yule (1996: 73)

overlap : both speakers speaking at the same time. Overlap usually occurs as both speakers attempt to initiate talk. It seldom occurs - ”parties should talk one at a time”. Usually one drops out. Sometimes competition occurs. The speaker who upgrades most wins.

Turn Taking linguistic clues intonational phrase boundaries dialog is made up of turns speakers alternate: speaker A says something, then speaker B, then speaker A... turn taking: who should talk and when identifying turn: linguistic clues intonational phrase boundaries slowing speaking rate drop in pitch or loudness Gestures pauses

Turn-taking rules At each transition-relevance place of each turn: How do speakers know when its time to contribute a turn? turn transitions occur at Transition Relevance Points (TRP) at TRP turn taking rules apply Turn-taking rules (Sacks, Schegloff, Jefferson, 1978) At each transition-relevance place of each turn: current speaker selects next speaker If during this turn the current speaker has selected B as the next speaker then B must speak next. next speaker self-selects If the current speaker does not select the next speaker, any other speaker may take the next turn. current speaker continues If no one else takes the next turn, the current speaker may take the next turn.

It provides support for the speaker in the form of short utterances. The non-floor holders in conversational situation are not only silent. Their contribution to the conversation is an important element of the “traffic management”. Back-channeling – vocalizations by the listener relinquishing the floor to the current speaker It provides support for the speaker in the form of short utterances. ‘uh-huh’ ‘yeah’ ‘I see’ Etc.

Types of sequences Adjacency pairs are a type of sequence, along with: Pre-sequences Insertion sequences

Adjacency pairs An adjacency pair is a unit of conversation that contains an exchange of one turn each by two speakers. The turns are functionally related to each other in such a fashion that the first turn requires a certain type or range of types of second turn. E.g.: A greeting–greeting pair A question–answer pair

Functions of adjacency pairs Adjacency pairs are used for starting and closing a conversation Adjacency pairs are used for moves in conversations First utterance in adjacency pair has the function of selecting next speaker Adjacency pairs are used for remedial exchanges Components in adjacency pairs can be used to build longer sequences

Types of adjacency pairs Question – answer Greeting – greeting Offer – acceptance Request – acceptance Complaint – excuse Adjacencey Pairs are organized in first and second part and have“preferences”: Preferred response = granting Dispreferred response = refusal

One speaker’s utterance makes a particular kind of response likely. Adjacency Pairs are pairs of utterances that usually occur together. As an accepted part of conversational structure, adjacency pairs have strong in-built expectations (Questions are generally answered, statements are acknowledged, etc.) The most often used Adjacency Pairs of the conversation analysed is question-answer. In our culture, a question is generally followed by an answer and is therefore a convenient way to introduce a new topic and to ensure a response.

The level of response varies according to the type of question used. Question and answers The level of response varies according to the type of question used. Questions can be divided into closed and open questions. ‘Wh-’ questions and ‘how’ questions are generally opened, as they leave a fairly open agenda for the speaker who answers. Closed questions are also called yes-no questions.

Let’s Practice Where do you live? Are you OK? What are you doing? OPEN CLOSE OPEN

The “openness” of a question varies with the context. Types of questions The “openness” of a question varies with the context. DAVID: how's your dogs (.) alright? ANDREW: yeah (.) they're in the kennels David asks two questions in one turn, an open one and a closed one. While the first question seems an open, interested and genuine enquiry, the second is closed and signals that this is just a comment in passing. D. has probaby already assumed that the dogs are fine and is seeking for confirmation and nothing more. Some questions, therefore, are not meant to get a real lenghty answer, but just to structure the conversation. How much a question throws open a topic depends on the nature of the question and on the context.

Pre-sequences A: (telephone ring at B’s location) summons pre-sequence is a sequence which includes a turn recognizable as potential initiation of another specific type of turn, e.g.: summon is a turn preceding an explanation A: Mummy. (summon) B: Yes dear answer A: I need a hat. (explanation for summon) A: (telephone ring at B’s location) summons B: Hello answer A: Hi greeting B: Oh hi! greeting 2

common types of pre-sequences: pre-selfidentification (e.g., Hi! ) pre-invitation (e.g., Are you free tonight?) pre-announcement (e.g., You won’t believe this.) pre-arrangement (e.g., Would you like to make an appointment later on?) pre-request (e.g., Do you have coffee to go?) pre-closing (e.g., Okay)

Insertion Sequence An insertion sequence is a sequence of turns that intervenes between the first and second parts of an adjacency pair. The topic of the insertion sequence is related to that of the main sequence in which it occurs and the question from the main sequence is returned to and answered after the insertion. A: Shall I wear the blue shoes? B: You’ve got the black ones A: They’re not comfortable B: Yeah, they’re the best then, wear the blue ones. Agent: Do you want the early flight? Client: What time does it arrive? Agent: Nine forty-five Client: Yeah - that's great

Insertion Sequences as a kind of Delay A delay is an item used to put off a dispreferred second part. A dispreferred second part is a second part of an adjacency pair that consists of a response to the first part that is generally to be avoided or not expected. A refusal in response to a request, offer, or invitation A disagreement in response to an assessment An unexpected answer in response to a question An admission in response to blame

References Capelli gloria. 2007. Conversation structure. Retrieved March 26, 2013 from www.gloriacappelli.it/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/lesson071.ppt Leech, G.N. 1983. Principles of Pragmatics. Essex: Longman Levinson, S.C. 1983. Pragmatics. Cambridge: CUP Mey, Jacob L. 1993. Pragmatics; An Introduction. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. Wolska, Magdalena. 2007. pragmatics and discourse; conversation structure. Retrieved March 26, 2013 from http://www.coli.uni-saarland.de/courses/pragmatics-07/Slides/PD.07.4.ConversationStructure.pdf --- 2013 . conversation analysis. Retrieved March 26, 2013 from www9.english.cityu.edu.hk/ebs/.../Conversation_Analysis .ppt _____2013. Introduction to Pragmatics. Retrieved March 26, 2013 from http://ifla.uni-stuttgart.de/~jilka/index.html