This article explores language learning as the speakers' microlongitudinal project in interaction. Using conversation analysis (CA) as a method, we present a single-case analysis on how a change occurs in the linguistic repertoire of 2 learners of Finnish. We discuss the challenges that the temporal aspect in learning poses within CA, such as the…

The role of the particle "o.k." in service encounter dialogue is discussed. A service encounter is defined as a situation of interaction between a "posted" server and a second party (a customer) who invokes the server's participation as an operator of a "serving post." It is suggested that approval or acceptance is often only part of what is being…

A study of code-switching, the use of two or more linguistic varieties in the same interaction. Code-switching as interpreted in this study is a meta-interactional cue which is activated to signal a change in direction of the interaction. Such a response to the interaction process is considered significant. (AMH)

Examines age differences in social interaction. Subjects range in age from five to 20. Results indicate female groups develop towards adult interpersonal behavior styles earlier than male groups. (Author)

Sociolinguists have recently demonstrated the value of directives in indicating the relationship between status and linguistic form. The purpose of the instrument developed for this study was to quantify the coerciveness of directives on the basis of the theoretical approaches in the literature to objectify the comparison of directive forms.…

Forms of address in Afghan society reflect the relationships between the speakers as well as the society's structure. In Afghan Persian, or Dari, first, second, and last names have different semantic dimensions. Boys' first names usually consist of two parts or morphemes, of which one may be part of the father's name. Girls' names usually consist…

This report describes a "culturally contexted" conversation analysis approach to the study of naturally occurring speech in supervisory conferences. The supervisors and teachers were participants in a graduate program for beginning teachers, and the conference's purpose was supervisory evaluation of teachers' classroom performances. Ethnographic…

Little is known about how children gain interpersonal access in settings where adults are not present or are unavailable. This study sought to describe children's strategies for access into and withdrawal from peer interactive episodes in a nursery school. Data were collected from direct observations of two groups of children. One group attended…

NOTING THAT RECENT RESEARCH POINTS TO LINGUISTIC CODE DIFFERENCES AS AN IMPORTANT FACET OF CULTURAL DEPRIVATION AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF EDUCABLE MENTALLY RETARDED (EMR) CHILDREN COME FROM LOW SOCIOECONOMIC LEVELS, IT WAS HYPOTHESIZED THAT ONE OF THE KEYS TO LEARNING FOR EMR CHILDREN IS THE COMPLEXITY OF THE TEACHER'S LANGUAGE IN RELATION TO THAT…