Transcribing my relevant contributions to the conversation
Callum: So Fin, do you or your parents have jobs?
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Fin W: They are obviously both responsible people as they have to decide what happens to other peop-
Callum: Do you want to do that?
Fin W: No
Callum: Why not
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Callum: Junior talk about your job in the co-op.
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Fin W: Um-
Callum: So (.) just tell me, what does your job involve?
Fin W: Um (.) I work at a trampoline park sort of place-
Callum: Is that 'Jump'?
Fin W: No
Callum: The one in Cribbs Causeway?
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Callum: Anyway (1) my parents (1) my (.) my mum is a social worker (.) who works (1) with people with learning difficulties (1) and (.) my dad is a service manager for an engineering company which does have a lot of responsibilities as he (.) in a way (.) takes care of the engineers
Relating to Tannen's difference model and that men are competitive in conversations, it seems I try to gain the authority by being the agenda setter, interrogating Fin, starting with a discourse marker, "So Fin, do you or your parents have jobs?" Although I believe myself to be a confident speaker, I wouldn't necessarily believe I would try to dominate and take authority in the conversation, despite the fact it may seem that way. Again relating to Tannen's theory that men are competitive, I interrupt Fin again with an interrogative which is unmitigated, without fillers or hedges, and straight to the point "Do you want to do that?" In reference to Brown and Levinson's politeness strategies, it could be argued that I use a bald, straight forward 'face', suggesting I was very confident in the conversation and possibly seemed as if I held the authority and didn't need to be overly polite, which was not the case. It could also be argued that, as the powerful participant, I was using constraints by asking a closed question to Fin to reduce his airtime.
Again relating to the bald face, I used an unmitigated imperative, again agenda setting, saying "Junior talk about your job in the co-op". Because we cannot see paralinguistics such as tone of voice and facial expression in the transcript, which I believe are a vital part of my communication, it seems I am being quite 'bossy' by using imperatives to demand someone else to talk, when actually my tone of voice could suggest I am actually being cooperative and trying to include people to talk.
Contrastingly to being cooperative, it could be argued that when in latched conversation with Fin, I am using a stereotypical male use of language by trying to be correct by questioning the speaker confidently; the fact that I also interrupted Fin also shows the confidence I had and, although there were no participants who were female, Zimmerman and West's theory of men interrupting frequently is shown in the transcript, as I interrupt quite frequently. However, it could be said that when interrupting, I am just trying to find out information and make the speaker expand on what they are saying, which I think was my intention.
When predominantly speaking, my air time was quite long and interrupted like a monologue, which could represent that the others did not feel confident or 'hold the power' to interrupt me; it may come across this way, but it is not the case. The pauses could also reflect on me trying to 'hog' the air time, or it may actually contrast from that and suggest me being nervous and not prepared of what to say.
Good use of terminology. Link to Beattie's idea of interruptions to show interest. Look at whether your interruptions anticipate the end of a unit (Schegloff) and show listener readiness or if they are competitive interruptions. Suggest contextual 'permissions' that might be given by your friendship or your need to complete the task for overlap. Looking at the longer turn, perhaps suggest the functions of paralinguistics, fillers and pauses in holding the turn or suggest that, in the case of turns in Schegloff's economy, that maybe no-one else was buying...
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