3. Reflection Moment…
Why does only one person speak at a time in a
conversation?
How do speakers know when to change turns?
How do speakers know when to initiate new
topics?
How do speakers know when it is appropriate to
interrupt?
How do speakers recognize when a person wants
to close a conversation?
4. Theories of Language
STRUCTURAL VIEW Language is a system of structurally related
elements (phonological, grammatical, lexical…) for the coding of
meaning. The target of language learning is to master the
elements of the language system.
FUNCTIONAL VIEW Language is the vehicle for the expression of
functional meaning. Communicative dimensions of language
are more emphasized. The target of language learning is to
express communication functions and categories of meaning.
INTERACTIONAL VIEW Language is the vehicle for establishing
and maintaining interpersonal relationships and for performing
social transactions between individuals. The target of language
learning is knowing to initiate and maintain conversational
exchanges with other people.
5. “The collaborative exchange of thoughts, feelings, or
ideas between two or more people, resulting in a
reciprocal effect on each other”
(Brown, 2007)
The role
speakers take
on during
conversation
How speakers
position other
interactants
Feedback
Strategies
used by
participants
Turntaking
& Topic
change
in context
6. Which are the Interactional Features of
Conversation?
ADJANCENCY PAIRS
Is the basic unit of interaction
composed of two turns
(utterances) which are produced
by different speakers.
U1 – Related to – U2
MOVES AND EXCHANGE
A move is the basic semantic
unit in interactive talk and
determines the way speakers
negotiate the exchange of
meaning.
TURNTAKING
The clear and systematic
semantic units that constitute
a turn of a talk. They make a
conversation keep sense and
flow coherently.
Reference: Thornbury, S. and Slade, D. (2006). Conversation: From description to pedagogy.
Cambridge University Press
