Interactional Sociolinguistics
Activities
Week 5
In-class Activity
1. If A then B
Look at each of the conversational moves below and decide what you think the preferred response would be in different situations. What kinds of meaning would be implied if the preferred response were not given (i.e. heard as 'officially absent').
| Move | Preferred Response/Situation A (Specify) | Meaning if preferred response is absent or different | Preferred Response/Situation B (Specify) | Meaning if preferred response is absent or different |
| 'Thank you' | ||||
| 'I love you' | ||||
| 'Hello, my name is Rodney' | ||||
| 'Sorry' |
2. Divide the following conversation into adjacency pairs.
Henry: (a) Y'want a piece of candy?
Irene: (b) No.//
Zelda: (c) She's on a // diet
Deby: (d) // Who's not on a diet
Irene: (e) =I'm on a diet.
(f) and my mother // buys
Zelda: (g) // You're not!
Irene: (h)=my // mother buys these mints.=
Deby: (i) // Oh yes I// amhhh!
Zelda: (j) Oh yeh
Irene: (k) The Russel Stouffer mints.
(l) I said, 'I don't want any Mom."
(m) "Well, I don't want to eat the whole thing."
(n) She gives me a tiny piece.
(o) I eat it.
(p) Then she give me an//other,=
Henry: (q) // Was, =
Irene: (r) =so I threw it out the window=
Henry =there a lot of people?=
Irene (s) =I didn't // tell her.=
Henry: (t) // Was there=
Irene: (u) =She'd kill me.
3. Compare how the participants manage the 'floor' in these two conversations.
Talk about how they get the floor, how they keep the floor, and how they surrender the floor.
a.
b.
Henry: (a) Y'want a piece of candy?
Irene: (b) No.//
Zelda: (c) She's on a // diet
Deby: (d) // Who's not on a diet
Irene: (e) =I'm on a diet.
(f) and my mother // buys
Zelda: (g) // You're not!
Irene: (h)=my // mother buys these mints.=
Deby: (i) // Oh yes I// amhhh!
Zelda: (j) Oh yeh
Irene: (k) The Russel Stouffer mints.
(l) I said, 'I don't want any Mom."
(m) "Well, I don't want to eat the whole thing."
(n) She gives me a tiny piece.
(o) I eat it.
(p) Then she give me an//other,=
Henry: (q) // Was, =
Irene: (r) =so I threw it out the window=
Henry =there a lot of people?=
Irene (s) =I didn't // tell her.=
Henry: (t) // Was there=
Irene: (u) =She'd kill me.
Fieldwork (include this in your field journal)
Observe how you conduct the following three kinds of conversation and try to formulate the 'procedural rules' by filling in the chart.
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Telephone |
ICQ |
Face to Face Conversation |
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How is the conversation initiated? What is the summons? (Is it verbal or non-verbal? If verbal, are there any conventional utterances used?
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What is the appropriate answer to the summons?
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Who 'talks' first?
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Is there an appropriate next move?
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Who has the right to introduce the topic?
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Analyze the following conversations using principles from both conversation analysis and politeness theory.
1.
A: Hi Sandy, How ya doin'? Long time no see!
B: OK, Mike. How are you?
A: Fine...uh, hey can I ask you a favor?
B: What is it?
A: Well...did you go to the French class yesterday?
B: Yeah.
A: Well, I was wondering if I could borrow your notes.
B: No problem.
A: I'll return them tomorrow, I promise.
B: Here they are.
A: Are you sure?
B: Sure, no problem
2.
(Two strangers in a fitness centre)
A: Here, try like this. (Walks to the pull-down equipment, takes the handlebar in this hands and demonstrates the appropriate moves. B tries to imitate A but is not successful).
B: (Returns bar to A without saying a word)
A: You're afraid of the weights.
B: (Turns to A. Registers surprise on his face)
A: Think of a number between one and four and I'll tell you what you have to do.
B: What?! (Bewildered, surprise reflected in his tone of voice and facial expression)
A: I'll give each of your exercises a number. One is the overhead pull-down. Two is the triceps pull-up. And so on. Just choose a number and I'll tell you what exercise to do and how much weight you need to put on the machine to do it.
B: No, I don't think so. (Walks off the weight room floor)
Reflection (include this in your field journal)
Write about how conversations are managed differently using different media (FTF, ICQ, fixed phone, mobile phone). How do you think this affects the kinds of interactions using these different media? Have you ever had difficultly in managing the conversational mechanics using any of these media?