Discourse Approach to Turn-taking

(b) The speaker is recalling or reconstructing the shared information or

knowledge.

(b-1) Response with a proclaiming tone

There is only one example of a falling-tone response. In <48>, the next speaker

wishes to find out about ‘QUEStions’. As a falling tone is chosen for the second tone

unit in the speaker’s utterance, questions themselves are not yet mentioned. But the

referring tone in the final tone unit implies that ‘THAT’ matter is already common

ground.

<48>

//  ! i WON’t BOther her // ! with any QUEStions just yet // ! nor

YOU EIther // !# for THAT matter // (S1/T10-U2, U3)

// ! WHAT QUEStions // (S1/T11-U1)

---

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(b-2) Response with a referring tone

In <49>, the referring tone of the speaker and the next speaker projects an assumption;

however, they indicate different matters. Columbo (the speaker) recalls that there was

‘freshwater’ with no chroline around the pool decking, which is very unusual. On the

other hand, Hanlon (the next speaker) is referring to the common ground that the pool

decking can be wet. He didn’t understand what Columbo implied. In <50>, Hanlon

(the speaker) uses a rising tone to remind Columbo (the next speaker) that Eric’s death

must be nothing but an accidental one. However, Columbo is doubtful. He is referring

back to his previous utterance about the unusual freshwater with no chroline around

the pool decking. Prominent words ‘WHY’ and ‘LOOKed’ support the choice of a

referring tone.

<49>

// !# oh there was just this WAter // !# aROUND the POOL decking

// (S1/T16-U1)

// !# well that’s NORmal // " for there to be WAter around a POOL //

# ISN’t it // (S1/T17-U1)

<50>

// " SO // # his DEATH was an ACcident // " there MUST be some //

# SIMple explaNAtion // (S1/T19-U1, U2)

//  !# well that’s WHY i said it LOOKed like an accident sir //

(S1/T20-U1)

(b-3) Response with a level tone

The next speaker replies hesitantly with a level tone, followed by a fall-rise tone to be

polite, because the speaker said that the room is off limits to unauthorized persons. A

rising tone displays his dominance.    

<51>

// ! ah this is a PRIvate BOX // # MISter // (S1/T1-U1)

// " WELL // !# i KNOCKed // (S1/T2-U1)