Longman Dictionary of

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conversational analysis
a research tradition evolving from ETHNOMETHODOLOGY which studies the
social organization of natural conversation (also referred to as talk-ininteraction)
by a detailed inspection of tape recordings and transcriptions.
Concerned with how meanings and pragmatic functions are communicated
in both mundane conversation and such institutional varieties of
talk as interviews and court hearings, conversation analysts have investigated
such topics as the sequential organization of talk, turn-taking, and
the ways that people identify and repair communicative problems.
see also ADJACENCY PAIR, CONVERSATIONAL MAXIM, DISCOURSE ANALYSIS,
ROLE, SPEECH ACT, TURN-TAKING
conversational analysis n
see CONVERSATION ANALYSIS
conversational implicature n
see CONVERSATIONAL MAXIM
conversational maxim n
an unwritten rule about conversation which people know and which
influences the form of conversational exchanges. For example in the following
exchange
a: Let’s go to the movies.
b: I have an examination in the morning.
B’s reply might appear not to be connected to A’s remark. However, since
A has made an invitation and since a reply to an invitation is usually
either an acceptance or a refusal, B’s reply is here understood as an excuse
for not accepting the invitation (i.e. a refusal). B has used the “maxim”
that speakers normally give replies which are relevant to the question that
has been asked. The philosopher Grice has suggested that there are four
conversational maxims:
a The maxim of quantity: give as much information as is needed.
b The maxim of quality: speak truthfully.
c The maxim of relevance: say things that are relevant.
d The maxim of manner: say things clearly and briefly.
The use of conversational maxims to imply meaning during conversation
is called conversational implicature, and the “co-operation” between
speakers in using the maxims is sometimes called the co-operative principle.
see also ADJACENCY PAIR, COHERENCE, REALITY PRINCIPLE
conversational openings n
(in conversational interaction) the strategies a person uses to begin a con-
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