How conversation works

Bibliographic Information

How conversation works

Ronald Wardhaugh

(The language library)

B. Blackwell, in association with André Deutsch, 1985

  • : hbk
  • : pbk

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Note

Bibliography: p. [216]-226

Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Conversation is very often spontaneous, natural and informal. But even at its most casual it is governed by rules and principles of language and behaviour. This book lays bare the structure of conversation, describing what happens when people talk to each other and explaining why they say what they say in a wide variety of circumstances. Ronald Wardhaugh explores many aspects of conversation, asking how conversations start, how we decide who will speak next, how we change the subject, and how we know when a conversation has finished. How Conversation Works is the most accessible guide to discourse analysis and pragmatics yet written and will be read with profit and enjoyment by students and general readers alike.

Table of Contents

Preface. 1. The Social Basis of Talk. 2. Locating an Agenda. 3. Cooperation and Playing the Game. 4. Beyond and Behind the Words. 5. The Importance of Context. 6. Getting Started and Keeping Going. 7. Topics, Turns, and Terminations. 8. Requesting, Informing, Advising, Agreeing, Apologizing, Promising. 9. Samples of Conversation. 10. Consquences. Bibliography. Index.

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Details
  • NCID
    BA00605661
  • ISBN
    • 0631139214
    • 0631139397
  • LCCN
    84014524
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    Oxford, Ox., U.K. ; New York, N.Y., U.S.A
  • Pages/Volumes
    230 p.
  • Size
    23 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
  • Parent Bibliography ID
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