Small talk (ST) refers to talk that is seen as space filling or aimless because of its non-goal-oriented purpose in comparison with work-related talk. This article examines ST in Jordanian medical encounters to explore the sequence structure in which ST occurs in combination with goal-oriented talk and the different forms and contexts of its occurrence. The framework of conversation analysis is used to analyze naturally occurring data, in particular exploring how talk orients to and departs from the medical agenda. The findings reveal both the forms and functions of ST in the dataset. The findings show various aspects related to ST: compliments, joking, laughter and ST linked to personal biography. This study offers insights into Arabic medical interaction in terms of the occurrence of ST, and it offers the possibility of designing training courses to employ ST as a communication technique in medical encounters.

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Closing is the last phase in a consultation in which participants will understand that the visit is almost done and some topic might be shifted to be discussed in the future visits. This phase is divided into two parts: preparing for closing, and the closing of the consultation which is the concern of the present paper. This article is a part of a large study examining the overall structure of doctor- patient interaction in a Jordanian university hospital. The present article focuses on the analysis of naturally occurring data by using conversation analysis (hereafter CA) framework. A deep analysis is performed to identify the patterns that construct the ending of the consultations. The findings reveal similarities in obvious features, such as ‘goodbye’ and ‘thanking words’, and cultural specific features to the medical consultations in a Jordanian university hospital, such as the use of religious greeting,‘in∫a Allah’ and ‘well wishes’.