Summary of Conversation and preference structure

Conversation and preference structure

Basically, the structure of the talk, the basic pattern of ‘I speak-you

speak-I speak –you speak’, will derive from that fundamental kind of
interaction we acquire first and use most often.
1. Conversation Analysis
Floor  people have the right to speak when they get communication or
interaction
Turn  having control
Turn-Taking  anyone can attempt to get control, Turn-taking
It operates in social action and accordance with local management system
(which is conventionally known by members of a social group).
Conversation  change – of – turn  TRP1
When speakers do taking turn at holding the floor in communication,
they cooperate and share equally. It can also be used to described those
conversation where speakers seem to be in competition, fighting to keep the
floor and preventing others to getting it, they are difference from one social
group,
2. Pauses
A speaker is silence (2.5-3 seconds) at the time of speaking.
This interaction between a student and his friend’s father during their first
meeting.
Example:
Mr. Strait : What’s your major Dave?
Dave : English- well I haven’t really decided yet.
(3 seconds)
Mr. Strait : So- you want to be a teacher?
Dave : No-not really-well not if I can help it.
(2.5 seconds)
Mr Strait : Wha-// Where do you--- go ahead
Dave : I mean it’s a – oh sorry // I em---
Based on the interaction above between Mr. Strait and Dave, there is
short pauses (marked with a dash) are simply hesitations, but longer pauses
becomes silences.
3. Overlaps (//) double slash
Both speakers are trying to speak at the same time.
Example
Min : Did you see him in the video?
Wendy: Yeah–the part of the beach.
Min : Oh my good // he was so sexy.
Wendy: he was just being so cool.
Min : And all the waves // crashing around him
Wendy: yeah that was really wild.
There are other kinds of overlap and they are interpreted differently. For
many speakers; overlapped talk appears to function like an expression of

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 solidarity or closeness in expressing similiar opinions or values. As shhown the
conversation above.
In example below overlap communicates competition.
Joe : What they were in
// power las– wait CAN I FINISH!
Jerry : that’s my points I said–
This is a clear interruption and breaks the ‘rules’,
4. Backchannels
Including head nods, smiles and other facial expressions and gestures but
most common vocal indications.
The purpose  giving feedback
This is very significant such as:
in face – to – face, the listener with:
- holding agreement
- leading an inference of disagreement
in the telephone conversation
to determine that the listener is still there,
Example:
Caller: if you use long distance service a lot then you will
Marry: uh-uh
Caller: be interested in the discount I’m talking about because
Marry: yeah
Caller: it can only save you money to switch to a cheaper service
Marry: mmm,
The signals (‘uh-uh’,’yeah’,’mmm’) provide feedback to the current
speaker that the message is being received. This indicates that the listener is
following, and not objeting to, what the speaker is saying.

5. Conversation Style
There are two conversation styles that are a high involvement style and a
high considerateness style.
a. A high involvement style, where participation from some individuals in a
conversation will be very relatively fast, with almost no pausing between
turns, and with some overlap or even completion of the other’s turn.
b. A high considerateness style, in this style speakers use a slower rate, expect
longer pauses between turns, do not overlap, and avoid interruption or
completion of the other’s turn (non-interrupting, non-imposing style)
6. Adjacency Pairs
Sequences of two utterances, they always consist of a first part and second
part, produced by different speakers.
Example:
First Part Second part
Anna: Hello Bill: Hi
Anna: How are you? Bill: Fine
Anna: See ya! Bill: Bye
Other types of adjacency pairs are illustrated in question-answer sequence,
thanking-response, and request-accept.
Example:
First part second part
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 A: What time is it? B: About eight thirty
A: Thanks B: You’re welcome
A: Could you help me with this? B: Sure

7. Preference Structure
Basiclly, a first part that contains a request or an offer is typically made in the
expectation that the second part will be an acceptance. an acceptance is
structurally more likely than a refusal. This structurally is called preference.

Preference structure divides second parts into preferred and

dispreferred social acts.
First part Second part

Preferred Dispreferred

Assessment Agree Disagree

Invitation Accept Refuse
Offer Accept Decline
Proposal Agree Disagree
Request Accept Refuse
Example Preference:
First Part Second Part

a. Can you help me? Sure

b. Want some coffee? Yes, Please.

c. Isn’t that really great? Yes, it is

d. Maybe we could go for a walk That’d be great

Note:
• a’sentence is request
• b’ sentence is an offer
• c’s sentence is an assessment
• d’s sentence is a proposal
Example dispreferred:
Becky : Come over for some coffee later.
Wally : oh-eh- I’d love to-but you see-I-I’m supposed to get this finished – you
know
• The wally’s expression of refusal can be accomplished without saying ‘No’.
Note:
Preference shown acceptances such as: yes, agree, accept, etc.
Disprefferes shown refusal, the signals: no, pause; er; em; ah well;oh, I’m not
sure; I don’t know, that’s great; I’d love to, I’m sorry; what a pity, I must do X;
I’m expected in Y, You see; you know, everybody else; out there, too much
work; no time left, really; mostly; sort of; kinda, I guess not; not possible

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4.1 A Conversation where a father is complimenting his daughter on her success in a music examination
and its analysis:
Father : Nuha(.) How was your exam today?
Daughter :My exam was fantastic.=My teacher told me, „Well done‟!
Father : CONGRATULATIONS!
Daughter: Thank you.
Father : You are welcome!
Daughter: I have an art exam tomorrow.
Father : O.K. Practice it. =You can do well in that also.
Among a number of functions of compliments, Hatch (1992) says, one is „to reinforce and encourage good
performance‟. Analysing the above conversation it has been found that the language used is of politeness. Next,
the function of the compliments is a positive evaluation of the daughter‟s performance in the examination she
has done well. This compliment on the part of the father will work to enhance the bonds between the father and
the daughter. Again, this conversation hsas „turn-allocation component of the turn taking system‟. It means that
the speaker and the hearer know when to speak and when to end. Then, the adjacency pairs are also
conspicuous.
For example, „congratulations, thank you, and „welcome‟ have been used in usual sequence. Furthermore, the
event structure of the compliment can be described as „compliment + acknowledgement/acceptance + bridge
(„congratulations + thank you + I have another exam…‟).

4.2 A conversation involving academic advice in an admissions office of a university (Bangladesh

University, Dhaka) and its analysis:
Student: Hello! (Can I have some information?)
Adviser: Hello! O yea. DEFINITELY. (Can I help you?)
Student: I would like to know about your MA courses in your university + MA in English.
Adviser: Mmmm(.3) + We have + we offer MA in English over here++ We have it on literature+MA in
literature.
Student: What is the duration of the course?
Adviser: Mmmm actually we have two options mmm over here. Like + if you were a student with honours‟
degree + a bachelor‟s degree in English, then the one-year course for you. Mmm(.2) but mmm if you don‟t have
a bacherlor‟s dgreee in English + then it is a two-year course.
Student: Don‟ have a MA in ELT?
Adviser: Mmm. actually at the moment we don‟t have it + haven‟t Mmm(.2) MA ELT but we are planning to
start from next year.
Student: Do you have hostel facilities for girls?
Adviser: O yea + of course + we have a very good facility over here for girls only. Mmm, + yea + for girls.
Stuent: O.K. Thank you.
Adviser: Any other questions?
Student: No, no, I will come later.
Hatch (1992) notes that the components of advice follow a predefined sequence. Normally, a group of
components for seeking and giving advice mostly follow the order: (a) opening, (b) participant identification (c)
problem statement (d) symptom negotiation (e) diagnosis (f) advice negotiation (h) advice acceptance (thanks)
(i)
preclosing and (j) closing.

4.3 Analysing a conversation where a husband and a wife share a common trouble.
Husband: Shisir!+Without eggs, breakfast is difficult.
Wife : Yes, it is! Eggs are all toxic. What to do?
Husband: Government has banned toxic poultry feed already.
Wife : Who cares? Nobody + will listen to it.
Husband: But we should have some alternatives.
Wife : Without eggs Nuha will NOT have her breakfast.
Husband; Then, where to get non toxic eggs? All the poultry farms feed the toxic food to
their chicken.
Wife : You can try for eggs in the village. The eggs that domestic chickens produce.
Husband: That‟s a good idea + I‟ll check in the market in the suburb today.

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