Interruptions and Silences in Conversations: A Turn-Taking Analysis

Abstract

This study is set to investigate the purposes behind interruptions and the meanings of silences in conversations. The data are taken from three casual conversations among friends. To analyze the data, the recorded conversations are first transcribed based on Jefferson’s the Glossary of Transcript Symbols (Jefferson, 2004). The transcribed conversations are analyzed using turn-taking approach in Conversation Analysis. To interpret the results of analysis, inferential method is applied. As the findings, the writers find that speakers interrupt for two purposes: to complete turns and to cut them. To go deeper, speakers interrupt when they have shared knowledge and/or similar perspective on something. In terms of silence, the meanings behind it are highly dependent on what are uttered prior to or after the occurrence of silence. Silences can indicate topic switch, speaker’s wish to continue the same topic, and disagreement. In a conversation, silences lead to awkward situations among speakers and show troubles in conversation flows.

Translanguaging as Interactional Resources Employed by Students in EFL Student-Led Group Task Interaction

“…Overlaps occur when learners show their agreement with a short single turn, which does not cut off the interaction flow; speakers can complete the turn. When speakers have shared knowledge or a similar perspective, they interrupt for two purposes: to complete turns and to cut them (Lestary et al, 2018). In the current study, only a few interruptions can be noticed where students shaped the speaker's contribution by rephrasing the previous utterances and taking turns to express their opinions in a similar perspective, and the purpose is mainly to complete turns.…”

Zooming out on bargaining tables: Exploring which conversation dynamics predict negotiation outcomes.

“…Or might they need to catch their breath more often? More broadly, there is currently an explosion of research on individual dimensions of conversation and turn-taking behaviors (e.g., response time : Corps et al, 2022; Templeton et al, 2022; interruptions : Lestary et al, 2018; M. G. Miller & Sutherland, 2022; pauses : Liu et al, 2022).…”

The Representation of Terrorists in Egyptian Cinema: A Conversation Analysis of Al-Irhaby (The Terrorist)

“…This section highlights the key organizational features related to CA, which naturally occur in conversations and are the basis of conversation researchers' work (Lestary, et al, 2017). Any conversation is based on the assumption of having turns exchanged between the participants.…”

“…They take place right before the transition relevance place (TRP) where the shift happens from one speaker to other speakers. Longer overlaps are quite problematic and are regarded as interruptions which somehow impede communication with the change in the turn order and the number of speakers grabbing the floor (Lestary et al, 2017). This will definitely also include hesitations, pauses and selfcorrections (Liddicoat, 2007).…”