Introduction to Interaction Understanding Talk in Formal and Informal Settings

This textbook provides an in-depth introduction to the theoretical perspectives and methods of doing conversation analysis, an approach to the study of talk in interaction which grew out of the work of Garfinkel, Sacks, Schegloff, and Jefferson. This book is unique in that it provides comprehensive instruction in both interaction in ordinary conversations in everyday life as well as talk in institutional settings and a wide range of workplace and business interactions, while teaching both major research findings and how to conduct conversation analytic research.

The book is designed to be useful for students of linguistics, sociology, and communication studies, and is written in clear and accessible prose. The Companion Website provides additional resources for instructors, such as questions and data excerpts for tests and in class exercises, audio and video clips for transcription practice, and guides for instructors on a range of topics covered in the course.

Angela Cora Garcia is Associate Professor of Sociology at Bentley University, USA.

Part 1: Theory, Method and Data for Conversation Analysis

Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study of Conversation Analysis
Chapter 2: Understanding Ethnomethodology
Chapter 3: Understanding and Doing Conversation Analysis: Methodological Approach
Chapter 4: Preparing the Data:Transcription Practices

Part 2: How Talk Works:The Social Organization of Human Action

Chapter 5: The Turn-Taking System
Chapter 6: Adjacency Pairs, Preference Organization, and Assessments
Chapter 7: Sequential Organization:Interrogative Series, Insertion Sequences, Side Sequences, and Pre-Sequences
Chapter 8: Openings
Chapter 9: Closings
Chapter 10: Error Avoidance and Repair
Chapter 11: Creating Topical Coherence
Chapter 12: Story Telling and the Embodied Nature of Face to Face Interaction
Chapter 13: Referring to Persons

Part 3: Technologically Mediated Interaction:Work Done Through and with Technology

Chapter 14: Routine Service Calls:Emergency Calls to the Police
Chapter 15: Problematic Emergency Service Calls
Chapter 16: Technological Transformations and Talk on the Telephone
Chapter 17: Air Traffic Communication

Part 4: Talk in Medical Settings

Chapter 18: Doctor Patient Communication and the Delivery of Bad News
Chapter 19: The Primary Care Consultation:Diagnostic Interviews and Medical Advice

Part 5: Talk in Legal Settings

Chapter 20: Trials and Other Public Legal Proceedings
Chapter 21: Behind the Scene Interrogations in Institutional Context
Chapter 22: Talk in Mediation Sessions

Part 6: Talk in Broadcast Media

Chapter 23: Television News Interviews
Chapter 24: Call-in Talk Shows on Radio and Television

Part 7: Talk in Business Settings

Chapter 25: Talk in Business Contexts:Doing Customer Service
Chapter 26: Talk in Business Contexts:Meetings, Interviews, and Performance Appraisals
Chapter 27: Conclusions

References