In this study I investigated crying, as a display of emotional upset. The aim was to provide a detailed description of how turns of talk were organised around crying. Using conversation analysis, I examined a sample of 26 calls to a helpline for victims. Talking and crying regularly occurred… read more | Chapter
Some language patterns appear fixed at a certain time, enabling their description as grammatical structures. Semi-fixed patterns that routinely accomplish specific social actions constitute more of an analytical challenge. This chapter targets the phrase ma saan aru ‘I understand’ in Estonian… read more | Chapter
In telephone-mediated service encounters, there are limits on how parties interact with one another. Speakers are restricted to only verbal (what they say) and aural (what they hear) means of communication. Therefore, a practical problem at the heart of such interactions is how speakers manage… read more | Chapter
Affiliation is a relevant response to ordinary troubles talk but in complaint calls to an independent dispute resolution service it is a restricted activity. This research asks about the practices conciliator call-takers use to maintain a neutral stance towards callers’ problems. Observable… read more | Article