27.630, Diss: English, Discourse Analysis, Phonology, Pragmatics, Text/Corpus Ling: Marine Riou: 'The Grammar of Topic Transition in American English Conversation'

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LINGUIST List: Vol-27-630. Tue Feb 02 2016. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 27.630, Diss: English, Discourse Analysis, Phonology, Pragmatics, Text/Corpus Ling: Marine Riou: 'The Grammar of Topic Transition in American English Conversation'

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Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2016 14:37:20
From: Marine Riou [marine.a.riou at gmail.com]
Subject: The Grammar of Topic Transition in American English Conversation. Topic Transition Design and Management in Typical and Atypical Conversations (Schizophrenia)

 
Institution: Université de la Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris III 
Program: English Department 
Dissertation Status: Completed 
Degree Date: 2015 

Author: Marine Riou

Dissertation Title: The Grammar of Topic Transition in American English
Conversation. Topic Transition Design and Management in
Typical and Atypical Conversations (Schizophrenia) 

Linguistic Field(s): Discourse Analysis
                     Phonology
                     Pragmatics
                     Text/Corpus Linguistics

Subject Language(s): English (eng)


Dissertation Director(s):
Eric Corre
Elisabeth Delais-Roussarie

Dissertation Abstract:

The research presented in this dissertation analyzes topic transition in
American English interaction, focusing on audio recordings of spontaneous
conversations between friends and relatives. The main object of inquiry is the
interactional action of transitioning to a new discourse topic, as well as the
different linguistic strategies that participants have at their disposal.
Three main types of cues are investigated: questions, discourse markers, and
pitch register. Each type of cue is analyzed for its individual contribution
to topic transition design, as well as for the way it can combine with,
supplement, or contradict other cues. Analyzing different types of cues –
verbal and prosodic – creates a composite picture of the various ways in which
the topic trajectory of a conversation shapes its grammar – including its
prosody. This study uses a mixed-methods approach which draws on the
qualitative-oriented theoretical frameworks of Conversation Analysis and
Interactional Linguistics, combining them with quantitative methods used in
Corpus Linguistics, such as systematic coding and statistics. This
multi-domain account is completed by elaborating a comparison between typical
and atypical interactions. Persons suffering from schizophrenia can experience
difficulties in managing the topics of a conversation, and they can produce
non-canonical transitions. Comparing their data with that of typical
participants thus sheds light on some of the expectations, preferences and
standard formats which can otherwise remain hidden when topic transition goes
smoothly.




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