Structures of Social Action

These essays reflects fresh developments in the increasingly influential field of conversation analysis.

J. Maxwell Atkinson (Edited by)

9780521318624, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 4 April 1985

464 pages
22.9 x 15.5 x 2.9 cm, 0.68 kg

Bringing together thirteen original papers by leading American and British researchers, this volume reflects fresh developments in the increasingly influential field of conversation analysis. It begins by outlining the theoretical and methodological foundations of the field and goes on to develop some of the main themes that have emerged from topical empirical research. These include the organisation of preference, topic, non-vocal activities, and apparently spontaneous responses such as laughter and applause. The collection represents the most comprehensive statement yet to be published on this type of research.

Preface
Transcript notation
1. Introduction John Heritage and J. Maxwell Atkinson
Part I. Orientations: 2. Notes on methodology Harvey Sacks
3. On some questions and ambiguities in conversation Emanuel A. Schegloff
Part II. Preference Organization: 4. Agreeing and disagreeing with assessments: some features of preferred/dispreferred turn shapes Anita Pomerantz
5. Subsequent versions of invitations, offers, requests, and proposals, dealing with potential or actual rejection Judy Davidson
6. Speakers' reportings in invitation sequences Paul Drew
7. Pursuing a response Anita Pomerantz
Part III. Topic Organization: 8. Generating topic: the use of topic initial elicitors Graham Button and Neil Casey
9. On stepwise transition from talk about a trouble to inappropriately next-positioned matters Gail Jefferson
Part IV. The Integration of Talk With Nonvocal Activities: 10. Notes on story structure and the organization of participation Charles Goodwin
11. Talk and recipiency: sequential organization in speech and body movement Christian Health
12. On some gestures' relation to talk Emanuel A. Schegloff
Part V. Aspects of Response: 13. A change-of-state token and aspects of its sequential placement John Heritage
14. On the organization of laughter in talk about troubles Gail Jefferson
15. Public speaking and audience responses: some techniques for inviting applause J. Maxwell Atkinson
Part VI. Everyday Activities as Sociological Phenomena: 16. On doing 'being ordinary' Harvey Sacks
References
Subject index
Index of names.

Subject Areas: General & world history [HBG]