The Texture of Casual Conversation
A Multidimensional Interpretation
Diana Slade [+–]
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Christian Matthiessen [+–]
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
View Website
Christian M.I.M. Matthiessen is a Swedish-born linguist and a leading figure in the systemic functional linguistics (SFL) school, having authored or co-authored more than 100 books, refereed journal articles, and papers in refereed conference proceedings, with contributions to three television programs. He is currently Chair Professor in the Department of English at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Before this, he was Chair of the Department of Linguistics at Macquarie University in Sydney. Professor Matthiessen has worked in areas as diverse as language typology, linguistics and computing, grammatical descriptions, grammar and discourse, functional grammar for English-language teachers, text analysis and translation, the evolution of language.
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation(1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Series: Functional Linguistics
Table of Contents
Preliminaries
Preface [+–]
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 1
Introduction [+–]
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 2
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 3
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 4
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 5
Gossip as Genre [+–]
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 6
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 7
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
Chapter 8
Conclusion [+–]
Australian National University
Diana Slade is Professor of Applied Linguistics, School of Literature, Languages and Linguistics. She is also Director of ANU Institute of Communication in Healthcare. Her major publications include Communicating in Hospital Emergency Departments (co-authored, Springer), Effective Communication in Clinical Handover: from Research to Practice (co-edited with Eggins, S. & Geddes, F.), Analysing Casual Conversation (with Eggins, S., 1997/2006, Cassell/Equinox).
Over the last three decades there has been an ever-increasing interest in the analysis of spoken interaction. Work on casual conversation, which for a time was found to present virtually insuperable problems to the analyst, has now come to occupy as prominent a place as institutional interactions. Many approaches to casual conversation have been partial, and the author’s own seminal publication with Suzanne Eggins, Analysing Casual Conversation (1997) was a milestone in demonstrating the value of locating the analysis in a broad framework that was inspired by Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics. In this new book Slade amplifies and extends that earlier work, presenting original case material and expanding on her claim that the ‘chunks’ of genre-based analysis need to be supplemented by the concept of ‘chat.’ She presents a framework and the tools for describing the dynamics of both the macro and the micro structure of conversation as it creates and recreates social relations. All those whose interests lie in understanding how language works in casual conversation, whether in linguistics sociolinguistics, educational linguistics or cultural studies, will find this an essential read.
