Turn-TakingTurn-TakingPresented by Sarah FriedmanPresented by Sarah Friedman

April 4, 2005April 4, 2005

Based on:Based on: Sacks, H., Schegloff, E.A., Jefferson, G. (1974). A Sacks, H., Schegloff, E.A., Jefferson, G. (1974). A Simplest Systematics for the Organization of Simplest Systematics for the Organization of Turn-Turn-Taking for Conversation. Taking for Conversation. LanguageLanguage, , 5050, 696-, 696- 735. 735.

IntroductionIntroduction

Report on turn-taking system for Report on turn-taking system for conversationconversation

Research using audio recording of Research using audio recording of naturally occuring conversationsnaturally occuring conversations

Need for a New Turn-Taking ModelNeed for a New Turn-Taking Model Investigators of small group interaction Investigators of small group interaction

have difficulty explaining behaviors using have difficulty explaining behaviors using turn-taking systemsturn-taking systems

Researchers of “interview” behavior are Researchers of “interview” behavior are concerned with concerned with

– The distribution of talk among the partiesThe distribution of talk among the parties– SilencesSilences– The way talk shifts from one speaker to anotherThe way talk shifts from one speaker to another

These researchers dealt with turn-taking These researchers dealt with turn-taking questions, but unsatisfactorily because of questions, but unsatisfactorily because of weaknesses in turn-taking modelsweaknesses in turn-taking models

Reasons for ResearchReasons for Research

Obvious that one party talks at a Obvious that one party talks at a time, there are techniques for time, there are techniques for allocating turns, etc.allocating turns, etc.

Can be applied to many contextsCan be applied to many contexts

Turn AllocationTurn Allocation

Next turn is allocated by Next turn is allocated by 1.1. Current speakerCurrent speaker

2.2. Self-selectionSelf-selection

Rules Governing Rules Governing Turn ConstructionTurn Construction

1. For any turn, at a transition-relevant 1. For any turn, at a transition-relevant place:place:

a.a. If “current speaker selects next” then If “current speaker selects next” then the person selected is obligated to the person selected is obligated to take the next turn.take the next turn.

b.b. If not, self-selection may be instituted.If not, self-selection may be instituted.c.c. Or, the current speaker may continue Or, the current speaker may continue

unless someone self-selects.unless someone self-selects.

2. If 1c occurs, then rules a-c reapply 2. If 1c occurs, then rules a-c reapply at the next transition-relevant placeat the next transition-relevant place

The System Accounts for:The System Accounts for:

Speaker changeSpeaker change One party talking majority of the One party talking majority of the

timetime Occcurrences of more than one Occcurrences of more than one

speaker at a time are common but speaker at a time are common but briefbrief

Types of OverlapTypes of Overlap

Accounted for by rule 1b (self-selection): Accounted for by rule 1b (self-selection): Competing for next turn. Competing for next turn.

Lil: Lil: Bertha’s lost, on Bertha’s lost, on ourour scale, scale, about about fourteen pounds.fourteen pounds.

Damora: Oh[::no::,Damora: Oh[::no::,Jean: Jean: [Twelve pounds I think [Twelve pounds I think

wasn’t it =wasn’t it =Daisy: [Can you beDaisy: [Can you believelieve it? it?Lil: Lil: [[TwelveTwelve pounds on the Weight pounds on the Weight

Watcher’s scale.Watcher’s scale.

Types of Overlap (cont…)Types of Overlap (cont…)

Assume you know how the speaker will Assume you know how the speaker will finish. finish.

A: Well if you knew my argument why did you A: Well if you knew my argument why did you bother to a:[sk.bother to a:[sk.

B: B: [Because I’d like to defend [Because I’d like to defend mymy argument.argument.

The speaker added optional elements that The speaker added optional elements that can go after completion. can go after completion.

A:A: Uh Uh youyou been down here before been down here before [havenche,[havenche,

B:B: [Yeh.[Yeh.

Turn Order/SizeTurn Order/Size Turn OrderTurn Order

– Not fixed yet it’s not randomNot fixed yet it’s not random– Bias: Speaker before the current speaker Bias: Speaker before the current speaker

is selected as the next speakeris selected as the next speaker Turn SizeTurn Size

– Not fixedNot fixed– Why?Why?

Because of unit types (single-word Because of unit types (single-word turns, single phrase turns, etc.)turns, single phrase turns, etc.)

Because of rule 1C (current speaker Because of rule 1C (current speaker can continue) the speaker can produce can continue) the speaker can produce more than one unit typemore than one unit type

More on TurnsMore on Turns

The length and content of conversations The length and content of conversations are not specified in advanceare not specified in advance

Anyone can be the next speakerAnyone can be the next speaker Number of parties can vary. Number of parties can vary.

– With 4 you can have multiple conversations With 4 you can have multiple conversations Turns begin at “possible completion Turns begin at “possible completion

points”points” Repairs exist for errors: Repairs exist for errors:

– Who me? Who me? – Excuse me?Excuse me?

Continuous or DiscontinuousContinuous or Discontinuous Talk can be continuous or discontinuousTalk can be continuous or discontinuous

– Continuous = minimum gap or overlap Continuous = minimum gap or overlap – Discontinuous = a current speaker has stopped Discontinuous = a current speaker has stopped

and no speaker starts, and non-talk is a lapse. and no speaker starts, and non-talk is a lapse.

J: Oh I could drive if you want me to.J: Oh I could drive if you want me to.C: Well no I’ll drive (I don’ m//in’).C: Well no I’ll drive (I don’ m//in’).J: hhh.J: hhh.(1.0)(1.0)J: I meant to offah.J: I meant to offah.(16.0)(16.0)J: Those shoes look nice when you keep on putting J: Those shoes look nice when you keep on putting

stuff on ‘em.stuff on ‘em.C: Yeah I ‘ave to get another can cuz cuz it ran C: Yeah I ‘ave to get another can cuz cuz it ran

out….out….

Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Next SpeakerNext Speaker

1. “Type of Sequence” parts. (Adjacency 1. “Type of Sequence” parts. (Adjacency pairs).pairs).

Examples:Examples:– Complaint/denialComplaint/denial

Ken: Hey yuh took my chair by the way an’t Ken: Hey yuh took my chair by the way an’t I don’t think that was very nice.I don’t think that was very nice.

Al:Al: I didn’ take yer chair, it’s I didn’ take yer chair, it’s mymy chair.chair.

– Compliment/rejectionCompliment/rejectionA: A: I’m glad I have you for a friend.I’m glad I have you for a friend.B: B: That’s because you don’t have That’s because you don’t have

any any others.others.

Turn Allocation Techniques: Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Next Speaker (cont…)Select Next Speaker (cont…)

2. Repeat parts of prior utterance with 2. Repeat parts of prior utterance with a question intonation or one word a question intonation or one word question.question.

Ben:Ben: They gotta – a They gotta – a garagegarage sale sale

Lori: Lori: Where.Where.

Ben: Ben: On Third Avenue.On Third Avenue.

Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Turn Allocation Techniques: Select Next Speaker (cont…)Next Speaker (cont…)

3. Tag question3. Tag question You know? Don’t you agree?You know? Don’t you agree?

4. Introduce social identities 4. Introduce social identities Two couples speaking. An invitation is Two couples speaking. An invitation is

made by a speaker to go to the made by a speaker to go to the movies. The next speaker should be a movies. The next speaker should be a member of the other couple. member of the other couple.

Turn Allocation Techniques: Turn Allocation Techniques: Self-SelectionSelf-Selection

1. Starting First1. Starting First

2. “Second Starters” 2. “Second Starters”

R: Hey::, the place looks differentR: Hey::, the place looks different

F: Yeah::hh.F: Yeah::hh.

K: Ya have to see all ou[r new-*K: Ya have to see all ou[r new-*

D:D: [It does?* [It does?*

R: Oh yeahR: Oh yeah

Consequences of the ModelConsequences of the Model

Motivation for listening to all utterances Motivation for listening to all utterances in a conversation in a conversation

– To see if you are the next speakerTo see if you are the next speaker– If you want to speak, make sure no one else If you want to speak, make sure no one else

was selected to speakwas selected to speak When a new speaker is selected, the When a new speaker is selected, the

speaker has to perform the second part speaker has to perform the second part of the adjacency pair. of the adjacency pair.

– Shows he understood the prior turn’s talk as Shows he understood the prior turn’s talk as the first partthe first part