Conversation Analysis Homework

English, Conversation Analysis – Megan Wibrow

Conversation - 

Darcy – because when we was there we decided that we was going to have a silver theme this Christmas (.) So mum brought a silver runner, silver plates, like silver cutlery (.)

Amelia – you get new cutlery for Christmas?

Darcy - yeah /

Georgia -         / special

Darcy – so yeah (.) anyway we had all this silver nice stuff for the day and then when we got to the fair we saw all this white embroider but it was actually gold.

Georgia – hmmm yeah (.)

Amelia – I bet your mum was raging. (Laughs)

Darcy – (Laughs)

Georgia – (Laughs)

Amy – ermm (.) this Christmas decorations?

Darcy – yeah (.) but ah it was so peng.

Analysis - 

The influence of this conversation was in the place of school at a lunch time. This meant that the conversation was on a random subject but had occurred lately which is why someone started telling the story about what happened with them and their family. The relationship of the conversation is a good and close relationship as it is between a group of friends. The conversation consisted of 4 people. Darcy was the most dominant speaker as it was her story which she was telling. The exchange structure which is the series of turn between the speakers is uneven. This is due to the turn taking of the conversation varies due to a dominant person talking. The 3 other participants are less dominant as they are listening to the story. The purpose of the conversation was social as it was a chat during a lunch time. Due to a good relationship between the speakers allows the register of the conversation to be informal. This is due to a group of good friends having fewer boundaries in what they talk about as they know each other well.

The conversation starts when Darcy uses a declarative sentence as she was informing her friends about a recent event which happened. The conversation continues in the format of exchange of information and the turn taking in the informal conversation. After this Amelia uses the interrogative question which was

There is an ellipsis used which is ‘ermm’. This is used as someone has just joined in the conversation and is clarifying what the conversation is about. The question ‘You get new cutlery for Christmas?’ due to her questioning the dominant speaker as she is in shock by her statement. Darcy goes to carry on by replying an answer showing she is an active listener. Georgia then cuts off Darcy’s reply by inputting her thoughts saying ‘special’ which shows that she and her family do not do this.  The dominant speaker which was Darcy then uses another declarative sentence as she is further explaining her story. Georgia replies ‘hmm yeah’ showing she is an active listener. This encourages the speaker to continue. Amelia then adds in an exclamatory sentence as she is stating something. Everyone in the conversation laughs due to the sarcastic comment. Amy then joins the conversation and by interrupting and questions the story to check she is correct. She says ermm which is a non fluency feature and an interrogative question. The dominant speaker replies to her question and then uses the word ‘peng’ which is an ephemeral language due to slang lasting a short period of time as it comes in and out of fashion. This creates informality as it is only used in some parts of the world as it has to be used contextually for it to make sense.