Learner resource 7 Features of spoken discourse Focus: Spontaneous Conversation

Turns (or turn constructional units if you want the jargon!) People usually take turns. When overlap occurs, it is usually brief. Order and distribution of turns is not fixed before hand. The size or length of a turn varies from one turn to the next. Turns can be made up of anything from a single lexical item to full sentences. At the end of a TCU there is a transition relevance place (TRP) : it is here that speaker change usually occurs. People usually take turns. When overlap occurs, it is brief. Order and distribution of turns is not fixed before hand. The size or length of a turn varies form one turn to the next. Turns can be made up of anything from a single lexical item to full sentences. The end of a TCU there is a transition relevance place (TRP) at it here that speaker change usually occurs.

Inter Turn and Intra Turn silences. Silences can occur both within and between turns. A lapse occurs at a TRP where no speaker is selected or feels that he wishes to take a turn: this may occur, for example, when a particular topic or subject has come to an end. A gap either when a speaker is waiting to begin his turn without being selected by the first, or where there is uncertainty about who will speak next. An attributable silence occurs when someone it is recognised by all speakers that is someone else’s turn. Silences can occur both within and between turns. A lapse occurs at a TRP where no speaker is selected or feels that he wishes to take a turn: this may occur, for example, when a particular topic or subject has come to an end. A gap either when a speaker is waiting to begin his turn without being selected by the first, or where there is uncertainty about who will speak next. An attributable silence occurs when someone it is recognised by all speakers that is someone else’s turn.

Overlap and interuption . . . Overlap describes what happens when more than one speaker speaks simultaneously. If the overlap occurs near the TRP, and does not violate the speaker’s turn, then it is simply called overlap. However, at times overlap occurs deliberately, because a new speaker is trying to violate someone else’s turn, for example in an argument, if they are trying to gain control of a conversation or to assert power or dominance over the other speaker. This is then called interruption. Overlap describes what happens when more than one speaker speaks simulateneously. If the overlap occurs near the TRP, and does not violate the speaker’s turn, then it is simply called overlap. However, at times overlap occurs deliberatley, because a new speaker is triyng to violate someone else’s turn, for example in an argument, if they are trying to gain cotnrol of a conversation or to assert power or sominace over the other speaker. This is then called interruption,

Adjacency pairs (the sequence of turns . . .) Adjacency pairs are sequences of two utterances which are: Produced by different speakers. Are usually adjacent to each other Ordered as a first and a second part. Constructed so that any particular first part requires a particular type of response (the second part). Often, these pairs are separated by some kind of insertion sequence: they are also easily disrupted when a large group is talking at once, leading to what is called adjacency repair…but more of that later! Adjacency pairs are sequences of two utterances which are: Porduced by different speakers Are usually adjacent to each other Ordered as a first and a second part. Constructed so that any particualr first part reuqires a particualr type of response (the second part)

Some other important terms: In spoken discourse also watch out for: Backchanelling: Words or phrases which act as feedback to the speaker, to let them know they are being listened to an to encourage them to continue.This kind of language a part of phatic utterances. Non fluency features such as fillers, hesitations and pauses. Discourse markers: words and short phrases which help to organise and structure spoken language such as now, right, well, Oh, I mean, you know, you see, anyway, O.K. Prosody: there may well be prosodic elements of language represented graphologically in a transcript, such as tone, stress and volume. In spoken discourse also watch out for: Backchanelling: Words or phrases which act as feedback to the speaker, to let them know they are being listened to an to encoruage them to continue. This kind of language is often called phatic communion. Discourse markers: words such as now, right, anyway, O.K which indidcate a wide vareity of Prosody: there may well be prosodic elements of language rperesentred ina transcrpit .

Is that it? NO! You also need to consider such discourse in terms of lexis, grammar and syntax, phonology ,context , register, audience and purpose! NO! You also need to consider such discourse in terms of lexis, grammar and syntax, context , register, audience and purpose!

Simple really . . .

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