Researchers from different academic disciplines approach conversation as a form of social interaction from widely differing perspectives. In this article, an overview of the sociological and sociolinguistic approaches and their different concerns in conversational interaction will be provided.
I am interested in these approaches in so far as they present views about conversation as a sociolinguistic instance which reveals interpersonal relations and various social variables. Such views are displayed in the hope of demonstrating that these perspectives fall short of providing structural analyses of conversation as a “social structure” for which participants hold themselves responsible for its maintenance.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Different approaches
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This article provides an overview of sociological and sociolinguistic approaches to the study of conversation as a form of social interaction. It examines how these approaches view conversation as a sociolinguistic instance that reveals interpersonal relations and social variables. The article aims to demonstrate that these perspectives fall short of providing structural analyses of conversation as a "social structure" for which participants hold themselves responsible for its maintenance.
- Sociological and sociolinguistic perspectives on conversation
- Conversation as a sociolinguistic instance revealing interpersonal relations and social variables
- Limitations of existing approaches in providing structural analyses of conversation
- Conversation as a "social structure" and participant responsibility for its maintenance
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Different approaches: This section explores various perspectives on conversational interaction, including those from pragmatics, sociology, social psychology, and ethnomethodology. It highlights the importance of studying how people talk and the structure of conversation in understanding social bonds and communication within communities. The section also introduces Goffman's view of interaction events as guided by a general-rules framework and the "definition of the situation" held by participants. It emphasizes the role of conversation in preserving social structure and order, and the face-preserving nature of interaction.
- Conclusion: This section is not included in the preview to avoid spoilers.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and focus topics of this text include conversational interaction, sociological and sociolinguistic approaches, interpersonal relations, social variables, social structure, participant responsibility, face-preserving activity, interaction order, "definition of the situation," and social psychological perspective.
- Quote paper
- Nor-eddine Bourima (Author), 2012, Language and social interaction, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/322103
