1. Introduction to Linguistics 6 Spoken Language Prof. Jo Lewkowicz 1

2. The spoken language Read through this short dialogue and decide where it is taking place. 1A: Morning B: Morning 2A: Nice day, again. B: Yep. Gonna be another good one. 3A: What can I get you? B: Coffee, thanks? 4A: Regular or decaf? B: Regular. 5A: Cream and sugar? B: Just a little cream. 6A: Here you go. B: Cheers How do the first 2 exchanges differ from the remaining part of the dialogue? Identify all the ellipses in this dialogue. 2

3. Adjacency pairs What would you expect to be the response to the following utterances: – Hi Jo, how are you? – Would you like some tea? – I’m so sorry – I loved the film we saw last night. – Thanks for a great evening! 3

4. Insertion sequences What lines of this dialogue extract make up the adjacency pair? 1.J: It’s a worry, isn’t it? 2.B: What? 3.J: Your money (yes) organizing your money affairs. 4.B: ‘tis... a big worry. What else is happening in this extract? 4

5. Complex insertion sequence A: Peach Bellini, please. B: Are you twenty-one? A: Why do you want to know? B: We don’t sell alcohol to anyone under twenty-one. A: Do I look as though I’m under twenty-one? B: That’s beside the point. Can I see your ID, please. A: Here. B: Great. Thanks. One Bellini coming up. A: Thanks. 5

6. Negotiation of meaning In real conversation we frequently resort to: – Clarification requests: Do you mean...? Example A: I don’t feel too hot today. B: Sorry, what do you mean by that, exactly? – Confirmation requests: Did you say....? Example A: I saw Philip a couple of weeks ago. B: Philip, really? – Comprehension checks: Do you follow? Example A: You need to fold the masking take along the edge of the cardboard. Know what I mean? B: I think so. 6

7. Transactional interaction Operator: Cabcharge –account name? Customer: Macquarie University. Operator: Passenger’s name? Customer: Nunan. Operator: Pick-up address? Customer: 13, Firth Avenue, East Ryde. Operator: Is that a private house or a flat? Customer: Yes. Operator: Going to? Customer: The airport? Operator: How many passengers? Customer: One 7

8. Understanding context How can you interpret the exchange below? A:So. if we go to the party how are we going to get there? B:Well, one of us could drive. C: OK, but who? B:Susie's on antibiotics. 8

9. Summary Spoken language can be broken down into 2 basic functions: transactional /interpersonal Ellipses is a feature of spoken language Much of interpersonal conversation relies on background knowledge and prior information about the participants of the interaction and requires top-down processing (schema theory) Conversations can be broken down into a series of 2-utterance pairing called adjacency pairs Adjacency pairs are frequently interrupted by an insertion sequence Negotiation of meaning is part and parcel of real spoken interaction Negotiation of meaning involves requests for clarification, confirmation checks as well as comprehension checks. Transactional interaction relies less heavily on negotiation of meaning than interpersonal conversation 9

10. Textbook dialogue: What features of real interaction are present / absent in this dialogue? SA: Can I help you? SA: Erm, no, sorry we haven’t got any at the moment. SA: Ah. sorry, no. SA: Sorry we don’t sell crisps. SA: Yes, they’re over there next to the cans of Coke. SA: Is that everything? SA: OK. That’s $2.50 please. C: Yes, please. Have you got any cartons of milk? C: Oh, have you got any cans of Sprite? C: OK. I’d like 4 packets of crisps. C: Well, do you have any bottles of water? C: Great. I’d like 2 bottles of water, please. C: Yes, thanks. C: OK... Oh no! I haven’t got any money! 10