Understanding 'stuckness' : descriptions and interpretations of how EFL speakers and a native speaker co-manage talk-in-interaction
Taking turns in keeping the talk going is a co-managed accomplishment. When the talk does not flow, the moment is noticeable and accountable. I am proposing the use of a new term, âstucknessâ, as an organizational concept which describes certain moments in NSNNS talk when participants temporarily lose a shared orientation as to who will take the next turn and what to say. Two related concepts are also introduced: Flow is the sequential moment where the talk proceeds smoothly to the next turn. Getting unstuck demonstrates the interactional work done by participants to address any uncertainties. The talk examined belongs to a hybrid genre which has elements of both ordinary conversation and institutional talk. The data come from a series of talks between three Japanese EFL students and me over a span of ten years. The collection of recorded talks includes over 30 sessions of dyadic talk ranging in length from 20 to 60 minutes per session. Three rules were followed: (1) English is the language of use. (2) Each session would last for a certain length of time. (3) The NNS would tell the NS about daily activities and special events. By tracing how one turn leads into another, three basic questions emerged: (1)
Nakamura, Ian
Understanding 'stuckness' : descriptions and interpretations of how EFL speakers and a native speaker co-manage talk-in-interaction. Taking turns in keeping the talk going is a co-managed accomplishment. When the talk does not flow, the moment is noticeable and accountable. I am proposing the use of a new term, âstucknessâ, as an organizational concept which describes certain moments in NSNNS talk when participants temporarily lose a shared orientation as to who will take the next turn and what to say. Two related concepts are also introduced: Flow is the sequential moment where the talk proceeds smoothly to the next turn. Getting unstuck demonstrates the interactional work done by participants to address any uncertainties. The talk examined belongs to a hybrid genre which has elements of both ordinary conversation and institutional talk. The data come from a series of talks between three Japanese EFL students and me over a span of ten years. The collection of recorded talks includes over 30 sessions of dyadic talk ranging in length from 20 to 60 minutes per session. Three rules were followed: (1) English is the language of use. (2) Each session would last for a certain length of time. (3) The NNS would tell the NS about daily activities and special events. By tracing how one turn leads into another, three basic questions emerged: (1)
description interpretation efl speaker native_speaker manage talk_in_interaction taking turn keep talk managed accomplishment talk flow moment noticeable accountable propose use new term organizational concept describe certain moment talk participant temporarily lose share orientation take next_turn say two_related concept also_introduce flow sequential moment talk proceeds next_turn getting demonstrates interactional work participant address uncertainty talk examine belongs hybrid genre element ordinary conversation institutional talk data come series talk japanese efl_student span collection record talk include session dyadic talk range length per session rule follow english_language use session would last certain length time nns would tell daily activity special event trace turn lead another three_basic question emerge