“Can I say something?”: Meta turn-taking in natural talk

Beatrice Barbara Szczepek Reed

doi:10.1075/ps.8.2.01szc

“Can I say something?”: Meta turn-taking in natural talk

Beatrice Barbara Szczepek Reed

Education

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In English the organization of talk into turns is routinely accomplished through a complex system of implicit, non-lexical cues. However, explicit verbalizations, such as “I haven’t finished” or “Can I say something?” do exist. This paper investigates instances in which participants employ meta formulations to structure their interaction. It describes their forms, sequential locations and interactional relevance. Speakers are found to make meta references to turn beginnings, both their own and those of others; and turn completions, typically by others. Meta turn-taking actions are used as a last resort, after other, implicit turn-taking strategies have failed; as a strategy to secure turn space; as a way of eliciting specific next actions; as a practice for initiating repair; and as a more general strategy for committing to a specific course of action.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	161-182
Journal	Pragmatics and Society
Volume	8
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.8.2.01szc
Publication status	Published - 31 Jul 2017

Bibliographical note

This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

Access to Document

10.1075/ps.8.2.01szc

Szczepek Reed 2016 Meta turn taking ACCEPTED
This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details
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Cite this

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