Conversational Conversational CoherenceCoherence

COM 370--John R. BaldwinCOM 370--John R. Baldwin

Conversational Conversational EffectivenessEffectiveness

(Thompson, 2003, Ch. 6)(Thompson, 2003, Ch. 6)

Setting the sceneSetting the scene: : Ex: a tough discussionEx: a tough discussion

Social contextSocial context Physical contextPhysical context RelationshipRelationship Mood/state of mindMood/state of mind Speech genreSpeech genre PurposePurpose

Elements of Effectiveness Elements of Effectiveness (informal)(informal)

(Thompson, 2003, Ch. 6)(Thompson, 2003, Ch. 6)

Balance of phatic communicationBalance of phatic communication Other-awareness (mindfulness)Other-awareness (mindfulness)

Process versus outcome focusProcess versus outcome focus Self-observation, other-observationSelf-observation, other-observation

Acknowledge feelings (EQ)Acknowledge feelings (EQ) Awareness of “face” Awareness of “face” Assertiveness (vs. agressiveness, passivenessAssertiveness (vs. agressiveness, passiveness Nonverbal awarenessNonverbal awareness Reframing: Reframing:

E.g., complaint E.g., complaint request; addressing racism request; addressing racism Open- versus closed statements: The keyOpen- versus closed statements: The key

Avoiding DiscriminationAvoiding Discrimination(Thompson, 2003, Ch. 6)(Thompson, 2003, Ch. 6)

A view towards “political correctness”A view towards “political correctness” Avoid language thatAvoid language that

Excludes: Excludes: “Chairman,” “the lawyer. . . he"“Chairman,” “the lawyer. . . he" Depersonalizes : Depersonalizes : “the handicapped.” “They are “the handicapped.” “They are

affectionate, aren’t they?”affectionate, aren’t they?” Stigmatizes : Stigmatizes : “Black sheep” “A ___ excuse.” “That’s “Black sheep” “A ___ excuse.” “That’s

so ____!”so ____!” Reinforces stereotypes : Reinforces stereotypes : “So, what team do you play “So, what team do you play

on?”on?” Legitimizes discrimination : Legitimizes discrimination : “domestic violence”“domestic violence” [Is Offensive] : [Is Offensive] : “Chairman,” “the lawyer. . . he"“Chairman,” “the lawyer. . . he"

Types of CoherenceTypes of Coherence

Global coherenceGlobal coherence: : “A goal-oriented plan “A goal-oriented plan that offers overall control and is that offers overall control and is functionally related to local surface functionally related to local surface connections” connections”

Local coherenceLocal coherence: : “Relations between “Relations between utterances, sentences, or propositions utterances, sentences, or propositions that are pairwise and structured as that are pairwise and structured as sequential continuations” (Ellis, 1999, p. sequential continuations” (Ellis, 1999, p. 90)90)

CohesionCohesion: : [More below…][More below…]

Two types of Two types of rulesrules

ConstitutiveConstitutive: : what what makes it what it is?makes it what it is?

RegulativeRegulative: : how how does one do it? does one do it? (deontic logic, p. 40)(deontic logic, p. 40)

Example: Sarcasm in Example: Sarcasm in organizational cultureorganizational culture

Hierarchy of MeaningsHierarchy of Meanings

TEXT CONTEXTS

Content Speech Act

Episode

Relationship/Contract

Self-concept

Cultural Patterns

Life script/self-concept

Relationship

Episode

Speech Act

Text

Ex: Ex: “Would you stop that?!”“Would you stop that?!”CultureCulture

Local CoherenceLocal Coherence

““Local organization . . . Is concerned with Local organization . . . Is concerned with the pragmatic relations among actual the pragmatic relations among actual components of a text. At its rawest level, components of a text. At its rawest level, a text is an unbroken string of a text is an unbroken string of expressions—words, phrases, and expressions—words, phrases, and speech acts. speech acts. Local coherence Local coherence is “from is “from below” or “bottom up” and focuses on below” or “bottom up” and focuses on how meanings in a text are linked up to how meanings in a text are linked up to form and contribute to more general and form and contribute to more general and complex meaningscomplex meanings” (Ellis, p. 110)” (Ellis, p. 110)

Local CoherenceLocal Coherence

CohesionCohesion: : The interrelation between The interrelation between surface forms of conversationsurface forms of conversation…”when …”when one element of a message cannot be one element of a message cannot be understood without referring to what understood without referring to what presupposes it” (Ellis, p. 111).presupposes it” (Ellis, p. 111).

Ex: Ex: “Bundle the papers with string. Then “Bundle the papers with string. Then place them on the curb. place them on the curb.

Types of CohesionTypes of Cohesion

ReferenceReference:: Something in text refers to Something in text refers to something else (e.g. pronouns)something else (e.g. pronouns) Exophoric: Not within textExophoric: Not within text Endophoric: Within text (before or after)Endophoric: Within text (before or after)

SubstitutionSubstitution: : Replaces one word with a Replaces one word with a substitute word or similar phrase, word, or substitute word or similar phrase, word, or clauseclause

EllipsisEllipsis: : When a word or phrase is not said, When a word or phrase is not said, but is understood; that is, a “meaning slot” is but is understood; that is, a “meaning slot” is emptyempty

Types of CohesionTypes of Cohesion ConjunctionConjunction: : Show “how information in one part Show “how information in one part

of text is related to what preceded it” (p. 114)—a of text is related to what preceded it” (p. 114)—a “semantic” rather than structural relationship “semantic” rather than structural relationship between elements: Conjunctions, compound between elements: Conjunctions, compound adverbs, prepositional phrases.adverbs, prepositional phrases. AdditiveAdditive AdversativeAdversative CausalCausal TemporalTemporal And others (locational, etc.)And others (locational, etc.)

Lexical CohesionLexical Cohesion: : Most complex; achieved Most complex; achieved through vocabulary selection with words that are through vocabulary selection with words that are synonymous, near synonymous, or in synonymous, near synonymous, or in superordinate relationship with one anothersuperordinate relationship with one another

Cohesion and…Cohesion and…

Effective communicationEffective communication: “Communicators who are : “Communicators who are adept…” (p. 116)adept…” (p. 116)

Speech actsSpeech acts: “their meaning and function are : “their meaning and function are determined locally…” (p. 124) (subcodes)determined locally…” (p. 124) (subcodes)

SequencingSequencing: : contingency-relevance rulecontingency-relevance rule (p. 129). (p. 129). Initiations: RecognizeInitiations: RecognizeIdentifyIdentifySocial RecognitionSocial Recognition ““Demand ticketDemand ticket” (p. 133)” (p. 133) Topic-shift markers: Topic-shift markers: (p. 136): Well, Now, BTW(p. 136): Well, Now, BTW Preface/followPreface/follow

RegulatingRegulating behavior (p. 132)behavior (p. 132)

Types of Discourse Types of Discourse (The Mysterious Ch. 9)(The Mysterious Ch. 9)

AttributesAttributes DebateDebate CeremonyCeremony MeetingMeeting Convers.Convers.

Number Number of peopleof people

TopicTopic

Turn Turn orderorder

Turn Turn lengthlength

Interruptions & OverlapsInterruptions & Overlaps

TRPTRP: : Turn-Relevant PlaceTurn-Relevant Place TCU: TCU: Turn-constructional units. Our utterances Turn-constructional units. Our utterances

(“turns”) may be made up of several of these(“turns”) may be made up of several of these

InterruptionInterruption: 2: 2ndnd speaker comes in in place speaker comes in in place other than TCU (i.e., where TCU is “not other than TCU (i.e., where TCU is “not projected.”projected.”

OverlapOverlap: : 22ndnd speaker comes in at/near TCU speaker comes in at/near TCU ““ContinuerContinuer”: ”: Overlap that continues S1’s turnOverlap that continues S1’s turn LRRMLRRM: : Listener-Response Relevant MomentsListener-Response Relevant Moments

Conversation issuesConversation issues

Participants and non-participantsParticipants and non-participants Type of relationship (friends versus Type of relationship (friends versus

acquaintances)acquaintances) Demographic differences (e.g., gender)Demographic differences (e.g., gender) Specific genre of conversation (job Specific genre of conversation (job

interview, therapy, openings, closings)interview, therapy, openings, closings)

Global CoherenceGlobal Coherence

““Global coherence Global coherence presupposes the presupposes the existence of a general structure that is existence of a general structure that is related to ideas such as topic, theme, related to ideas such as topic, theme, gist, or goal of discourse. It focuses on gist, or goal of discourse. It focuses on what is most central or prominent about a what is most central or prominent about a discourse and acts as an overall discourse and acts as an overall executive manager of language, acts, executive manager of language, acts, and sequences” (Ellis, p. 110)and sequences” (Ellis, p. 110)

Aspects of Global Aspects of Global CoherenceCoherence

Topicality:Topicality: Subject of theme of Subject of theme of discourse or text—the element that holds discourse or text—the element that holds an entire text or portion of text together. an entire text or portion of text together. The importance of topicThe importance of topic Determining conversational relevanceDetermining conversational relevance Focus (implicit, explicit)Focus (implicit, explicit) ForegroundingForegrounding

1a: The little puppy stepped on a wasp.1a: The little puppy stepped on a wasp. 1b: The puppy was very upset.1b: The puppy was very upset. 1c: It started to buzz furiously.1c: It started to buzz furiously.

2a: The book was really good. 2a: The book was really good. ItIt was well was well written.written.

3a: The book was really good. The 3a: The book was really good. The author is very skilled.author is very skilled.

Aspects of Global CoherenceAspects of Global Coherence

Schema(ta):Schema(ta): ““higher-level data structures for higher-level data structures for representing concepts in memoryrepresenting concepts in memory”—memory ”—memory structures or sets of “knowledge” we use to structures or sets of “knowledge” we use to interpret experienceinterpret experience Person schemaPerson schema Event schemaEvent schema Self schemaSelf schema Role schemaRole schema Ex: Van Dijk’s (1987) example of stereotypesEx: Van Dijk’s (1987) example of stereotypes

Aspects of Global CoherenceAspects of Global Coherence

Scripts:Scripts: Similar to an “event schema,” a script is a Similar to an “event schema,” a script is a ““knowledge structure that depicts a typical knowledge structure that depicts a typical sequence of events for a common situationsequence of events for a common situation” (p. ” (p. 95). We use these for situations like “getting ready 95). We use these for situations like “getting ready for class” or “asking for date.”for class” or “asking for date.” What are some common scripts you can think of?What are some common scripts you can think of? What are some ways scripts (and other schema) can What are some ways scripts (and other schema) can

differ?differ? Scripts assume information shared by participants.Scripts assume information shared by participants.

Ex: Claire painted the wall with a roller.Ex: Claire painted the wall with a roller. Ex: Julie polished her surfboard.Ex: Julie polished her surfboard. Ex: Zack ordered a steak.Ex: Zack ordered a steak.

When it arrived, he picked up his X to eat it.When it arrived, he picked up his X to eat it. John needed money. He got a gun and walked John needed money. He got a gun and walked

into a liquor store. He told the owner he wanted into a liquor store. He told the owner he wanted some money. The owner gave John the some money. The owner gave John the money.money.

Scripts suggest that we get much meaning from Scripts suggest that we get much meaning from these utterances that is not present within these utterances that is not present within either the semantics or syntax !either the semantics or syntax !

Global Coherence: Global Coherence: NarrativesNarratives

Narratives:Narratives: Stories told in interaction with Stories told in interaction with characters, events, time sequence. They can be characters, events, time sequence. They can be true or false, but are generally assumed to be true true or false, but are generally assumed to be true by the speaker.by the speaker. How long must a narrative be?How long must a narrative be? PreferentialPreferential or or ObligatoryObligatory rules? rules? Narrative must surround a “Narrative must surround a “narratable eventnarratable event”” RepairsRepairs can be used to fix problems in referencing, can be used to fix problems in referencing,

sequencing, or evaluatingsequencing, or evaluating Repairs can be initiated by the speaker or hearerRepairs can be initiated by the speaker or hearer

E.g., E.g., insertions, retrackinginsertions, retracking

Narrative reportabilityNarrative reportability

Teller’s involvement (if hearer knows the Teller’s involvement (if hearer knows the teller)teller)

Culturally significant informationCulturally significant information ““Inherently and permanently reportable” Inherently and permanently reportable”

versus “reportable in context”versus “reportable in context”

NarrativeNarrativeA typical narrative has these components:A typical narrative has these components: SettingSetting OrientationOrientation ComplicationComplication ResolutionResolution EvaluationEvaluation ConclusionConclusion [How are van Dijk’s prejudiced narratives [How are van Dijk’s prejudiced narratives

different? Why is this important?]different? Why is this important?]

Narrative Rules: who & Narrative Rules: who & what? (Metts)what? (Metts) Contexting ruleContexting rule: :

SpeakerSpeaker When/how?When/how?

Relevant to the topic Relevant to the topic At prior topic close (e.g., the “lull”)At prior topic close (e.g., the “lull”) Introduced with relevance accounted forIntroduced with relevance accounted forOff-topic, but with prefatory signalOff-topic, but with prefatory signalMay be similar in “theme” (e.g., May be similar in “theme” (e.g.,

embarassment, failure, joy)embarassment, failure, joy)

Alignment ruleAlignment rule: : HearerHearer Wait for interruptionWait for interruption Can express “minimal responses of Can express “minimal responses of

attention and appreciation” at attention and appreciation” at Listener Listener Response Relevant MomentsResponse Relevant Moments (LRRMs)(LRRMs)

Concision rules:Concision rules: I. I. Unnecessary Events: Unnecessary Events: Omit Omit

“subevents” not necessary for “subevents” not necessary for understanding.understanding.

II. II. Audience familiarity: Audience familiarity: Shorten Shorten narratives with which audience is narratives with which audience is familiar.familiar.

Comprehension rulesComprehension rules:: I. I. ReferencingReferencing: : avoid vague references to avoid vague references to

people, places, events not understood by hearerpeople, places, events not understood by hearer II. II. SequencingSequencing: : narrative should have logical narrative should have logical

(sequential) order(sequential) order III. III. EvaluatingEvaluating: : For narrative to be understood, For narrative to be understood,

you must “evaluate” the central action, indicate you must “evaluate” the central action, indicate meaning of narrative at that point in the meaning of narrative at that point in the conversation.conversation.

Appropriateness rulesAppropriateness rules:: I. I. [Formality][Formality]: : Story should match Story should match

appropriate level of formality for the appropriate level of formality for the situatuationsituatuation

II. II. [Altercasting][Altercasting]: : Avoid stories that cast Avoid stories that cast your interaction partner (i.e., make a “role your interaction partner (i.e., make a “role bid”) in a role that she or he would not bid”) in a role that she or he would not appreciate in the context.appreciate in the context.

[might there be others?][might there be others?]

Narrative Receipt RuleNarrative Receipt Rule:: Responding rule:Responding rule: Assume the narrative fit Assume the narrative fit

within the interaction context. “At the first within the interaction context. “At the first indication of the narrative’s completion, you indication of the narrative’s completion, you must offer an implicative turn that indicates must offer an implicative turn that indicates your understanding or appreciation of for the your understanding or appreciation of for the evaluative point of the narrative”evaluative point of the narrative”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqx1JO-g2pw

ApplicationApplication

CMM: normative and constitutive rulesCMM: normative and constitutive rules SchemaSchema Cohesion: Cohesion:

Local (utterance by utterance)Local (utterance by utterance) GlobalGlobal

Effectiveness (per Thompson)Effectiveness (per Thompson) Narrative rulesNarrative rules

The FuneralThe Funeral http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfDyTU

iL8xs