Conversation Analysis: Brown and Yule, Merrison, Hutchby, Harrington

Language in Interaction: conversation analysis
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Language in Interaction: conversation analysis
Conversation analysis is a study within sociology that began in the 1960s by Harvey Sacks and Emmanuel Schegloff. It was aimed at dissecting socio-linguistics and specifically conducting empirical evaluations of talk-in-interaction. The study takes an in-depth study of the constructs of conversation such as turn-taking, action sequencing, and repairCITATION Hom10 \p 492 \l 1033 (Homberger & McKay, 2010, p. 492). The researchers noted that conversation was and continues to be an important tool in human interaction, and there was a need for a deeper understand of the aspects that shape conversation CITATION Hom10 \l 1033 (Homberger & McKay, 2010). Conversation analysis is unique in that it takes place in a casual settingCITATION Rob08 \p 13 \l 1033 (Wooffitt & Hutchby, 2008, p. 13). The environment is crucial, noting that most human interaction (conversations) is in an informal and social contextCITATION Hom10 \p 492 \l 1033 (Homberger & McKay, 2010, p. 492).
Sacks, Schegloff and Jefferson were the key researchers involved in creatingCITATION Sac74 \p 696 \l 1033 (Sacks, et al., 1974, p. 696) Conversation analysis as a field of study. They determined that by utilizing the same principles and methods participants in conversation use to produce and comprehend conversation; they could use the same principles to analyzes conversation. Conversation analysis (CA) inspects the intricacies that formulate conversation; asking the questions that allow humanity to understand conversationCITATION Gri89 \p 137 \l 1033 (Grice, 1989, p. 137). As researchers and analysts, we are unable to fully appreciate conversations that we might not be party to. It is essential to note that conversations have multiple nuances and subtleties that only participants can appreciate. As analysts, we apply the skills of conversation analysis to understand better the conversation and the human dynamics behind them CITATION Har95 \l 1033 (Sacks, 1995). Conversations between good friends will often contain coded language, language that those outside the conversation cannot make sense of. CA enables us to understand how seemingly unrelated concepts of culture, tradition, modernity, education, power and gender dynamics all play a crucial role in the conversation. Such an understanding allows us to appreciate the role these elements play in human interaction and how we can utilize the same to have more meaningful and impactful conversations.
Conversation analysis is similar to discourse analysis in that they both analyze conversation. The two, however, differ substantially. Discourse analysis evaluates a broader spectrum of conversationCITATION Geo83 \p 11 \l 1033 (Yule & Brown, 1983, p. 11). It will assess written conversation, vocal conversation, sign (or signal conversation) language and any instances where the conversation is conducted. CA, on the other hand, limits itself to only vocal and non-vocal communication. Discourse analysis is broader in its scope of evaluationCITATION Woo05 \p 101 \l 1033 (Wooffitt, 2005, p. 101). CA, however, is specific and conducts more thorough and minute examinatio...