Analyzes excerpts from eighteen of Robert M. Krauss's dialog transcripts in order to characterize the sequential and structural relations between naming and describing. Specifically, investigates how a referential description is shortened into a name through use, and what parts of antecedent descriptive phrases are selected to form the consequent…

Vocal activity in spontaneous speech appears to alternate between regular periods of high and low activity. These cycles may be properties of social systems, internal cognitive rhythms, or physiological rhythms that affect readiness to initiate activity. (Author/RL)

Suggests that cumulative dynamic analysis of the semantic structure of the incoming message is subconsciously performed by interpreters. (Author/RL)

The recorded conversations of 40 preschool children in small groups were analyzed for interruptions, overlaps, lapses, and gaps. Significant differences were found between heterogeneous and homogeneous groups for interruptions, with boys interrupting girls at a two to one ratio. (Author/RL)

Describes an experiment designed to investigate the characteristics of speech addressed to children and to determine if they are distinctive enough to be perceived as a special register. Explains how evidence for specialness was found in the judgments of observers exposed to messages addressed to different categories of listeners, including…

Examines the effect of redundancy of information on the intelligibility of hearing and deaf children's speech. Based on intelligibility scores obtained for a set of words presented both in context and in isolation, suggests that the children do not use the same production strategies to assist listeners. (Author/MES)