Change of speakers
The change of speaker (also speech taking , turn-taking , English turn-taking ) is a common phenomenon in conversations, which ensures that and how several contributions (turns) are distributed among the participants in the conversation.
The conversation analysis assumes that a local mechanism (local management system) regulates the allocation of speaking rights. At a transfer- relevant place of a contribution to the conversation (transition relevant place, TRP) , which u. a. is indicated by intonational and semantic means, the speaker can be changed according to certain rules:
- 1. Speaker A selects participant B in his contribution (external choice). After the next TRP, B can speak.
- 2a. If speaker A does not choose anyone in his contribution, everyone can choose himself and speak (self-selection).
- 2 B. If speaker A does not select anyone in his contribution, he too can select himself again and continue speaking.
This system is so efficient that it is only in about 5% of cases an overlap of contributions (overlaps) comes. These overlaps arise through exploitation or disregard of the rule system or through a 'miscalculation' of a contribution - if, for example, contributions are interpreted as 'ended'. In case 2a, there can also be competition for the right to speak. Normally, a solution system corrects such overlapping by canceling. The overlapped contribution point is then mostly repeated. Incidentally, it was observed that in conversations, especially participants with a lower social status, were the first to break off their contribution if there was an overlap. There are also language communities in which this change of speaker is regulated exclusively via the social status system.
Forms of changing speakers
There are five types of speaker change:
- Smooth change of speaker - normal case; Change of speakers takes place one after the other
- Change of speaker after overlapping - individual syllables or words of the old and new speakers overlap; These are not perceived as annoying as they are mostly filler words / words
- Change of speaker after interruption with simultaneous sequence - interruption in the other's contribution
- Change of speaker after an interruption without a simultaneous sequence - interruption at the end of a contribution (e.g. at the end of a sentence), but at a point not ready to be handed over
- Change of speaker after break - break between contributions to the conversation; Relative size that can be perceived or defined differently in different language communities and cultures
Switching speakers through interruption has a latently aggressive effect and represents a form of self-choice that is perceived as unpleasant for the speaker.
Roles and activities
Speaker role and speaker activities
The duration of the speaking role or the right to speak depends on factors such as time, place, public character of the conversation, the relationship between the participants in the conversation, the topic, etc. Verbal appendages, so-called tag questions (“or?” “Isn't it?”, “Eh?”, “How do you like that?”) Signal the end of the contribution and prompt a change of speaker. Other turn-over signals can be expressed through emphasis (questioning, falling) or through body language (eye contact, gestures during a contribution, etc.).
Listener role and listener activities
The listener is in the feedback behavior (listener feedback or back-channel behavior ). There are two main types of listener activity: attention-generating and commentary listener signals. Commentary listener signals include attention-generating signals or are an expanded form thereof. In addition, the listener can also use verbal and non-verbal means, such as eye contact, attention to the body, facial expressions, gestures, head movements, emotions, feedback signals ("mhm", "aha") and comments such as "oh yes?", "Tja" , "Exactly" etc.
literature
- Harvey Sacks, Emanuel A. Schegloff, Gail Jefferson: A Simplest Systematics for the Organization of Turn Taking for Conversation. In: Language , 50, 1974, pp. 696-735.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c After Brinker, Klaus / Sager, Sven Frederik: Linguistic conversation analysis: An introduction . 5th, revised edition. Erich Schmidt, Berlin 2010, ISBN 978-3-503-12207-3 .