Transcript and Conversation Analysis - Case Study Example

Transcript and Text Analysis Name Course Tutor Date Transcript and Text Analysis Conversation Analysis Introduction Discourse analysis involves the investigations of language as it is actually used. Language is mainly utilized for the purpose of passing on information. In this sense there is a difference between oral and written in the way that is produced. This enables the speaker and the listener to engage in an effective form of communication. Conversation analysis is therefore regarded as a major methodological approach engaged in the study of verbal interactions. This approach of discourse and communication is mainly applied within the context of both face to face and telephone interaction. The essay will critique conversation analysis with the underlying principles and tools. In addition, the essay will argue the strengths and weaknesses of the approach while drawing evidence in well cited text samples (Nofsinger, 1991). Conversation Analysis Within the context of communication individuals generate utterances that engage in the performance of actions that precipitate particular followed kind of actions. Hence, verbal interactions presents a structure that involves shape and form of approaches through which the process of interactions are interconnected to series of actions. Therefore conversation analysis was mainly developed from the work of Harvey Sacks that engages in the process of analysis of language as a social action. Thus, the form of interaction that occurs between individuals are considered as systematically organized and ordered (Hatch, 2001). Conversation analysis has its main focus on the recurring patterns of verbal interactions as it engages in the investigations of ways through which people open and close their conversations. This is important in order to convey meanings within a particular conversation. Conversation analysis therefore involves the evaluation of the spoken interactions with tools such as overlap, pauses volume and pitch of the conversation (Hutchby & Woffitt 1998). The transcription of the conversation that is documented as an analysis is important as it displays essential features of the interaction process. In conversation analysis the utterances of individuals consists of well structured form of sentences that will be engaged by participants in order to obtain meaning. In conversation analysis the role of the speaker and the listener is clearly defined as it follows a well structured sequence (Lee, 2007). Conversation analysis therefore involves the description that builds upon the conversation of the participating parties. CA is mainly interested in the persistent outline of verbal interactions as it engages in the process of investigating ways through which individuals open and close their conversation. These forms of conversation may be between a doctor and a patient, a teacher and a student or between friends (Van Dijk, 1993). Conversation analysis therefore is important due to the fact that it involves the investigation of the form of speech between individuals and the achievement of the action between the speaker and the listener. Thus, CA involves an approach that analyzes a spoken discourse through observation on the daily interaction process and ways through which a conversation is managed. The analysis requires the comprehension of sequences of related utterances such as turn taking, responses, repair, openings and closings and response tokens. Thus, in conversation analysis there is a sequence that follows a particular type of conversation between individuals (Gardner, 1994). An example of a conversation analysis with the aspect of sequence as a main feature includes; Participant Sound/utterance Sequence Name (phone ringing) Summons Recipient Hello Answer Caller Charles? Identification Recipient Yeah Recognition Caller Hi, this is Clara Greeting Recipient Hi Clara Caller How are you How are you Recipient Okay In Conversation analysis an important part of the analysis is within the transcription. This involves the recording and analysis of text with the use of various features such as repetition, increase in pitch or volume of a particular sequence of utterances. In addition, a conversation analyst in most cases listens and transcribes in order to find out the frequency of a particular aspect within the conversation. Hence, the main purpose of conversation analysis is to adequately understand ways through which various speakers manage their conversation interactions (Lee, 2007). An opening within a conversation is regarded as a signal to commence speaking. In most cases it can be inform of a greeting, an introduction inquiring about an individual’s health. In written form of conversation an opening involves the beginning of the text and in most cases the beginning of a fresh topic. Whereas a closing involves a signal to stop a particular conversation. In this case it can be in form of a farewell or parting shot for ending a conversation. Hence, a closing marks the end of a topic or the conversation in general. In written form it involves the conclusion or the end (Horn, 2009). An example of an opening in a phone conversation (Summons: phone ringing) Marion: Hello? Nancy: Hi. Marion: How are you? Nancy: fine and how are you. An Example of a closing in a conversation Mother: Okay Son: Yeah Mother: I will call you tomorrow then. Son: bye. Mother: bye Turn-taking and Turn –over signals involves the completion of an individual’s contribution in a particular conversation in order to allow another speaker a chance to engage within the conversation. The form of shifts in most cases occurs smoothly and in instances where they overlap an indication of involvement is expected rather than conflict or hostility. Back- channel as a feature of conversation analysis involves a signal that secures feedback or the response that is obtained by the sender to the receiver. Hence, it generates information in relation to the achievement or breakdown of the communication process. Backchannel signals can either be verbal or non verbal types of conversation. Examples of verbal backchannel signals include ‘really’, ‘sure’, or ‘yes’. The non verbal involves such signals as a smile, sulk or a nod. In addition, the signals may vary in different types of conversations both the formal and informal conversations. The signals are further affected by the cultural orientation of the conversation between individuals ( Hatch, 2001). Pre-empt signals as a feature of conversation analysis involves the tolerable methods to make interruptions of an ongoing communication process. Such interruptions include the use of such words as ‘excuse me’. Such types of signals may change the course of the communication process or in some instances bringing the communication to a standstill. Bracket signals is a conversation analysis feature that is essential in the separation of side talk from the main conversation. Hence it is considered as an off topic signal within a conversation. Examples of such signals include; ‘by the way’ and the return signals include such words as ‘well’ (Sacks et.al., 1974). Language exchange that involves a student reporting an issue to the teacher. Speaker Text Constraint/Signal type Speech Act Cooperative communication (knock on the door) Pre-empt T Come in Opening directive Quantity S Hi Teacher. Have you got a minute Salutation; opening Indirect directive Quantity T Please have a seat. What is going on? Turn taking Turn over Expressive directive quantity S I think there is a problem in class in regards to the new student. representative Quantity Relevance manner Mobile phone Phone tone Non-participant T I am sorry Turn taking commissive Quality Relevance Manner S Do you have to answer it? Bracket Turn over directive T Don’t worry about it. It is my wife calling. I will get back to her after our discussion. Commissive representative Quantity Relevance S The new student has a problem and we would like to team up as a class to offer help. Representative quality T It sounds good see you in class in a few minutes Pre-closing Expressive commissive quantity S (gets up to leave) Thank you closing expressive manner T Thanks closing expressive quantity Weaknesses of Conversation Analysis The communication theory presents the constraints of conversation analysis. Constraints in the process of communication are considered as universal and therefore appear in various forms of communication. However, the constraints vary in relation to the type of communication channel that is being utilized. The weaknesses of conversation analysis can be divided into system challenges and ritual constraints (Nofsinger, 1991). In relation to system constraints it is regarded as universal constraints to human communication. In every communication there are several signs that are used to indicate the opening and closing of a particular conversation. These signals differ in relation to the channel of communication being used. The main channels of communication involve phone calls, meetings and letters. For instance when a student meets another student on his way to class there are various non verbal and verbal signals that will be projected. An opening signal will be made and in response the other student will also make a response signal. Weaknesses may arise in the sense that an opening and a closing are not presented so as to show the commencement and ending of the conversation process (Jefferson, 2004). Critique of Conversation analysis In conversation analysis participants within the conversation are not directly involved in the analysis of the conversation in order to highlight their meaning in various perspectives. In addition, the conversation analyst view in relation to the meaning is mainly within the context of spoken text. In CA the there is contrast to the Discourse analysis in the sense that the social background and positioning is engaged in the predetermination of the meanings that is generated by the conversation (Schegloff, 2007). In addition, issues of social disadvantages and inequality are not emphasized within the context of CA. Hence, it is the neglect of the socio-cultural aspect to studies that forms a key criticism of the conversation Analysis. In any form of discourse analysis including CA the aspect of socio-cultural orientation is neglected in the sense that the participants of the conversation are not involved in the conversation analysis. It is essential for the participants to be involved in the analysis of meanings within their conversation so as to come up with the desired meaning of the conversation (Hutchby & Woffitt 1998). Conclusion Conversation analysis forms an important aspect in the understanding of langusge and conversation in general. Therefore Conversation Analysis involves a methodology that engages in the analysis of spoken discourse that explores ways through which individuals manage their conversational interactions approaches. It mainly emphasizes on both the verbal and non verbal forms of communication. CA has various features that include the focus on actions, various structures within the communication process and intersubjectivity of the conversation among individuals. In addition, CA mainly focuses on transcriptions that assist in the analysis process. The main critique of CA involves the fact that it does not incorporate the reflections of the speakers in the interaction process. Hence it focuses on the text in relation to the argument and various explanations while evading the psychological aspects of the conversation. The critics of CA argue that the analysis evade other important factors that are involved in the conversation process in the interpretation of meaning within the context of the spoken text. In addition CA engages in making assumptions in relation to the categories of talk. Therefore it assumes the regular occurrence of a phenomena in terms of sequence, structure and coherence of talk. However CA can be utilized effectively with more information in relation to the actual participants of the conservation and comprehending of meanings within an interaction. References Schegloff, E. A. (2007). Sequence organization in interaction, volume 1: A primer in conversation analysis. Nofsinger, R. E. (1991). Everyday conversation. Newbury Park: Sage. Sacks, H., Schegloff, E. A., & Jefferson, G. (1974). A simplest systematic for the organization of turn-taking in conversation. Language, 50, 696-735. Hatch, E. (1992). Discourse and Language Education. Cambridge University Press. Hatch, E. (2001). Communication theory: System constraints. Chapter 1 in Discourse and language education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Horn, L. R. (2009). WJ-40: Implicature, truth, and meaning. International Review of Pragmatics, 1(1), 3–34. Lee, Yo-An. (2007). Third – turn position in teacher talk: Contingency and the work of teaching. Journal of Pragmatics, 39, 180–206. Gardner, R. (1994). Conversation analysis: Some thoughts on its applicability to applied linguistics. Australian Review of Applied Linguistics. Series 11, 97–118. Van Dijk, T. A. (1993), Principles of critical discourse analysis. Discourse and Society, 4(2)249– 283. Jefferson, G. (2004). Glossary of transcript symbols with an introduction. In G. H. Lerner,(Ed.), Conversation analysis: Studies from the first generation (pp. 13–31). Hutchby, I., & Woffitt, R. (1998). Conversation analysis: Principles, practices & applications. Cambridge: Polity Press. Read More