Week 3- adjacency pairs

WEEK 3- ADJACENCY PAIRS

Questions for discussion:

1. 
   What is an adjacency pair?
   

Adjacency pairs- Adjacency pairs refer to 'conversational sequences' in which an utterance by one speaker depends upon an utterance made by another speaker. It is a sequence of two related utterances by two different speakers. The second utterance is always the response to the first. It is known as ' a tied pair' also known as 'illocutionary force'. Pairs of utterances in talk are often mutually dependent. A most obvious example is that a question predicts an answer and that an answer presupposes a question.

2. 
   Give an example
   

"Can you look this over?"

"I'm busy."

"I'll ask you again later."

3. 
   What is preferred and dispreferred response?
   

Preferred responses- are those that are culturally expected they are the ones that feel the most “natural”

Characteristics of preferred responses:

-delivered promptly

- brief and to the point

Example:

A:Want to join us for dinner tomorrow?

B: We’d love to!

Dispreferred responses are those that are not expected but they are not necessarily rude if phrased properly.

Characteristics of dispreferred responses:

-delayed response

-hesitation particles used

-long- winded explanation

Example (rude):

A: Want to join us for dinner tomorrow?

B: No, your cooking is terrible.

Example (polite):

A: Want to join us for dinner tomorrow?

B: [pause]Well, hmmm….. I told Cathy a while ago that I would join her tomorrow for dinner. Maybe some other time, okay?
  What responses (preferred or dispreferred) are given in the following adjacency pairs? Why do you think so?

Offer / Acceptance

a) •Do you need a lift?

•Thanks, but I’m waiting for my friend.

b) •I’m sorry.

•That’s OK. Don’t worry about it.

4. 
   Identify the functions of adjacency pairs given in the example below: Turn taking
   

a) A:Can I have a bottle of whiskey?

B:Are you over twenty-one?

A:No.

B:No.
B) •A: May I please speak to Rodney?

•B: May I ask who’s calling?

•A: Alan.

•B: Just a minute. I’ll get him.

5. 
   What is an insertion sequence?
   

An insertion sequence is a sequence of turns that intervenes between the first and second parts of an adjacency pair. The person towards whom the first part of an adjacency pair has been directed may want to undertake some preliminary action before responding with the second part.

Identify one in the following conversation:

Linda: I’ll forget my lines.

Gage: What?

Linda: I’ll forget my lines.

Gage: No you won’t Linda. You’re just nervous. Turn taking

What is turn- taking and what types does it fall into?

Turn-taking- is a type of organization in conversation and discourse where participants speak one at a time in alternating turns. In practice, it involves processes for constructing contributions, responding to previous comments, and transitioning to a different speaker, using a variety of linguistic and non-linguistic cues.

6. 
   Is overlap normal in conversation? Why do you think so?
   

I think overlap conversation it isn’t normal conversation. When you talk and I interrupt , I seldom wait until you have finished speaking.