Interruption Elicits Laughter: Cooperative and Intrusive Interruptions in a Chinese Talk Show Host’s Conversation

Abstract

<p><em>This study is designed to examine how the secondary/subordinate host under institutional obligations and restrictions employs the interruption mechanism to supplement the dominant host’s narrative and elicit an audience’s laughter. Ten episodes totaling 239 minutes of the popular Chinese TV talk show Jinxing Show were selected, focusing on the “monologue” narrative section in which the interruption mechanism is given its best play. The data encompass 288 interruption turns and 80 non-interruption turns. Conversation Analysis is used to analyse the type of interruptions and the relation between interruptions and laughter. It is found that interruptions adopted by the assistant host can be analysed according to two aspects: rapport and intrusion, with the former consisting of backchannel and progression, while the latter is characterized by tease, disagreement, and pick-up. Backchannel and pick-up scarcely produce laughter from the audience, while progression and disagreement result in around half of the interruption that embodies laughter, and tease causes the strongest reactions. It is also argued that the interruption-laughter correlation is determined by the role identification and institutional obligations, which are primarily aimed at complementing the storytelling of the dominant host and enliven the atmosphere in the studio. Through administering quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study is expected to develop studies of institutional interruption by displaying how the secondary characters in institutional contexts (talk shows) full of dominance and restrictions exert resistance (interruption), while also accomplishing institutional responsibilities. Helping the audience and viewers appreciate the discursive skills of the talk show hosts is also likely.</em></p>

Interruptions and politeness in David Letterman show “my guest no need introduction” Shah Rukh Khan episode

“…The researchers also noted the essential notions between the two speakers and interpreted the cultural meaning behind it. The researchers noted the interruptions and analyzed them by referring to Tao's (2018) theory about interruption, clarification, and affirmation (Kurtiae, Brown, & Wells, 2013;Schegloff, 2000;Tannen, 1983). The researchers then classified the interruptions and presented them in tables.…”

“…Simple interruption happens when the second speaker succeeds in interrupts the first speaker's sentence, and the first speaker does not have a chance to continue his or her sentences (Tao, 2018) The first interruption was done by Shah Rukh Khan when David wanted to know about Shah Rukh Khan's adoption story. It is discussed in the dialogue that when Shah Rukh Khan was a baby, his mother gave him to his grandmother.…”

“…Ferguson states that Overlap interruptions happen when the second speaker interrupts the conversation, but the first speaker can continue his or her sentences. (Tao, 2018) In this conversation, David asked whether Shah Rukh Khan's son wanted to be an actor like his father. Then, Shah Rukh Khan explained that his son did not want to be the one because he did not want to be compared with Shah Rukh Khan.…”

“…Butting in Interruption happens when the second speaker intends to interrupt the conversation but fails (Tao, 2018). There was only one Butting-In interruption during the show.…”

“…Silent interruption happens when the first speaker seeks help from the second speaker and allows the second speaker to interrupt (Tao, 2018). Both David and Shah Rukh Khan said one silent interruption during the show.…”