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Weaving conversation analysis into language class.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

This article first discusses some key features and analytic aspects of conversation analysis (CA). Then the employment of CA of an authentic conversation text recorded and transcribed by the author is illustrated. The significance and pedagogical implications of incorporating CA into language class, especially for learners learning English as a foreign language (EFL), is then addressed in detail.

Introduction

Conversation analysis (CA) refers to "the analysis of natural conversation in order to discover what the linguistic characteristics of conversation are and how conversation is used in ordinary life" (Richards, Platt & Platt, 1992, p. 106). Derived from the principles and beliefs of ethnomethodology (Garfinkel, 1967), conversation analysis is a significant domain that interprets the patterns through which people handle conversations. Everyday conversation is one of the indispensable functions of a language. And the understanding of the flows and structures of everyday language is essential to language learning (Riggenbach, 1999). Therefore, incorporating conversation analysis into language class is important in that it could facilitate learners' understanding of how real-world communication happens and is carried on. In the following sessions, key issues of conversation analysis are first discussed, an authentic conversation text recorded and transcribed by the author is then analyzed, and its significance and pedagogical implications for language class are addressed.

What is Conversation Analysis?

To understand the features of conversation analysis, a clear distinction should be drawn between it and discourse analysis. To study the sequential organization in human utterances, discourse analysis mainly involves employing methodological and theoretical rules, while conversation analysis moves directly from empirical data to theoretical conclusion, without making any intervening assumptions (Levinson, 1983). In other words, conversation analysis adopts a bottom-up inductive research method in comparison to the top-down, deductive procedures typical of discourse analysis. Conversation analysis takes a close look at unplanned, spontaneous and interactive conversation, and thereby provides an ample database for probing the organization of conversation.

It is important to note, however, that the concept "conversation analysis" goes far beyond what its name suggests. It is applied not only to everyday conversation, but also to other forms of interactive talk. Deborah (2001) briefly listed some areas which fall into the scope of conversation analysis such as "talk in professional and workplace settings", "political speeches" and "radio phone-in programmes" (p. 89). Schegloff, Koshik, Jacoby and Olsher (2002) also included some nonlinguistic items like body language and facial expression into the field of conversation analysis.

Key Features of Conversation Analysis

As noted above, one of the prominent features of conversation analysis is its focus on ordinary conversation. It is proposed that tape-recorded conversation...

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