Turn-taking: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:45, 9 February 2025

Turn-taking is a fundamental aspect of conversation and communication in which participants alternate speaking roles. It is a key component of discourse analysis and is studied in various fields such as linguistics, sociology, and communication studies.

Overview

Turn-taking involves the orderly exchange of speaking turns between participants in a conversation. This process is governed by implicit rules and social norms that vary across different cultures and contexts. The study of turn-taking examines how speakers manage the flow of conversation, signal their intention to speak, and recognize when it is their turn to contribute.

Mechanisms of Turn-taking

Several mechanisms facilitate turn-taking in conversation:

Turn-constructional units (TCUs): These are the building blocks of conversation, consisting of words, phrases, or sentences that form a complete thought. TCUs help participants identify when a speaker has finished their turn.

Transition relevance places (TRPs): These are points in conversation where a change of speaker can occur. TRPs are often marked by the completion of a TCU, a pause, or a change in intonation.

Overlap and interruption: While turn-taking aims to minimize overlap, interruptions can occur. These may be cooperative, such as when a listener provides feedback, or competitive, when a speaker attempts to take the floor.

Cultural Variations

Turn-taking conventions can vary significantly across cultures. In some cultures, overlapping speech is common and considered a sign of engagement, while in others, it may be viewed as rude. Understanding these cultural differences is important for effective cross-cultural communication.

Research and Theories

The study of turn-taking has been influenced by several theoretical frameworks:

Conversation analysis: This approach examines the structure and organization of talk in interaction, focusing on how participants manage turn-taking.

Speech act theory: This theory explores how utterances function as actions, influencing turn-taking by determining the speaker's intent.

Pragmatics: This field studies how context influences the interpretation of meaning, including how speakers negotiate turns in conversation.

Applications

Understanding turn-taking is crucial in various applications, such as:

Human-computer interaction: Designing systems that can effectively manage turn-taking in interactions with users.

Language teaching: Helping learners develop conversational skills by understanding turn-taking norms.

Therapy and counseling: Facilitating effective communication between therapists and clients.

Related pages

References

Sacks, H., Schegloff, E. A., & Jefferson, G. (1974). A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking for conversation. Language, 50(4), 696-735.
Levinson, S. C. (1983). Pragmatics. Cambridge University Press.
Yule, G. (1996). Pragmatics. Oxford University Press.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Turn-taking''' is a fundamental aspect of [[communication]] that involves two or more participants exchanging roles in a conversation, dialogue, or other forms of social interaction. It is a key component in the study of [[conversation analysis]], [[linguistics]], and [[social psychology]], providing insights into the mechanisms and rules that govern human interaction. Turn-taking is not only limited to verbal communication but also occurs in non-verbal interactions and across various communication mediums.
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
+{{Refimprove|date=October 2023}}
+'''Turn-taking''' is a fundamental aspect of [[conversation]] and [[communication]] in which participants alternate speaking roles. It is a key component of [[discourse analysis]] and is studied in various fields such as [[linguistics]], [[sociology]], and [[communication studies]].
 ==Overview==
-The concept of turn-taking was extensively studied by sociologists [[Harvey Sacks]], [[Emanuel Schegloff]], and [[Gail Jefferson]] in the 1970s. They proposed a model of turn-taking for conversation that has been influential in the fields of [[sociolinguistics]] and [[discourse analysis]]. According to their model, turn-taking is organized by a set of rules that participants generally follow to decide when one person's turn ends and another's begins. These rules help to minimize overlap and silence between turns, contributing to the smooth flow of conversation.
+Turn-taking involves the orderly exchange of speaking turns between participants in a conversation. This process is governed by implicit rules and social norms that vary across different cultures and contexts. The study of turn-taking examines how speakers manage the flow of conversation, signal their intention to speak, and recognize when it is their turn to contribute.
+==Mechanisms of Turn-taking==
+Several mechanisms facilitate turn-taking in conversation:
+* '''Turn-constructional units (TCUs):''' These are the building blocks of conversation, consisting of words, phrases, or sentences that form a complete thought. TCUs help participants identify when a speaker has finished their turn.
+* '''Transition relevance places (TRPs):''' These are points in conversation where a change of speaker can occur. TRPs are often marked by the completion of a TCU, a pause, or a change in intonation.
+* '''Overlap and interruption:''' While turn-taking aims to minimize overlap, interruptions can occur. These may be cooperative, such as when a listener provides feedback, or competitive, when a speaker attempts to take the floor.
+==Cultural Variations==
+Turn-taking conventions can vary significantly across cultures. In some cultures, overlapping speech is common and considered a sign of engagement, while in others, it may be viewed as rude. Understanding these cultural differences is important for effective [[cross-cultural communication]].
+==Research and Theories==
+The study of turn-taking has been influenced by several theoretical frameworks:
+* '''[[Conversation analysis]]:''' This approach examines the structure and organization of talk in interaction, focusing on how participants manage turn-taking.
+* '''[[Speech act theory]]:''' This theory explores how utterances function as actions, influencing turn-taking by determining the speaker's intent.
+* '''[[Pragmatics]]:''' This field studies how context influences the interpretation of meaning, including how speakers negotiate turns in conversation.
-==Mechanisms==
+==Applications==
-Turn-taking involves several key mechanisms:
+Understanding turn-taking is crucial in various applications, such as:
-* '''Turn Constructional Units (TCUs)''': These are units of speech that can potentially constitute a turn. They can be as short as a single word or as long as several sentences.
-* '''Turn Allocation''': This refers to the process by which speakers determine who has the right to speak next. Turn allocation can be achieved through various means, including selection by the current speaker, self-selection by the next speaker, or by the rules of the conversation context (e.g., a classroom or courtroom setting).
-* '''Transition Relevance Places (TRPs)''': These are points at which the current speaker has completed a TCU, and the next speaker may legitimately take the floor. TRPs are crucial for the smooth exchange of turns.
-==Rules and Norms==
+* '''[[Human-computer interaction]]:''' Designing systems that can effectively manage turn-taking in interactions with users.
-The turn-taking model posits several rules that participants typically follow:
-. If the current speaker selects the next speaker, the selected person should speak next.
-. If the current speaker does not select the next speaker, any other participant may self-select.
-. If no one self-selects, the current speaker may continue speaking.
-Participants in a conversation also adhere to social norms and cultural expectations that influence turn-taking. These norms can dictate the appropriate length of turns, the acceptable ways to interrupt or yield the floor, and the topics considered suitable for discussion.
+* '''[[Language teaching]]:''' Helping learners develop conversational skills by understanding turn-taking norms.
-==Applications and Importance==
+* '''[[Therapy and counseling]]:''' Facilitating effective communication between therapists and clients.
-Understanding turn-taking is crucial in various fields:
-* In [[education]], it helps teachers manage classroom interactions and discussions.
-* In [[healthcare]], effective turn-taking between doctors and patients can lead to better communication and patient outcomes.
-* In [[human-computer interaction]], insights from turn-taking are used to improve the design of conversational agents and voice user interfaces.
-==Challenges==
+==Related pages==
-Despite its ubiquity, turn-taking can be challenging in certain contexts, such as in cross-cultural communication, where different norms and expectations may lead to misunderstandings. Additionally, technology-mediated communication, such as text messaging or video conferencing, introduces delays and other issues that can disrupt the natural flow of turn-taking.
+* [[Conversation analysis]]
+* [[Discourse analysis]]
+* [[Pragmatics]]
+* [[Speech act theory]]
-==Conclusion==
+==References==
-Turn-taking is a complex yet integral part of human communication, enabling individuals to participate in conversations and other forms of social interaction effectively. By adhering to specific rules and norms, participants can navigate the exchange of turns smoothly, facilitating understanding and cooperation.
+* Sacks, H., Schegloff, E. A., & Jefferson, G. (1974). A simplest systematics for the organization of turn-taking for conversation. ''Language'', 50(4), 696-735.
+* Levinson, S. C. (1983). ''Pragmatics''. Cambridge University Press.
+* Yule, G. (1996). ''Pragmatics''. Oxford University Press.
+[[File:Harald_Sunde_in_conversation.jpg|thumb|right|Turn-taking in conversation]]
 [[Category:Communication]]
-[[Category:Sociolinguistics]]
+[[Category:Linguistics]]
-[[Category:Social psychology]]
+[[Category:Sociology]]
-{{Communication-stub}}