CONVERSATION ANALYSIS Meaning and
Definition
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Conversation analysis is a qualitative research method and disciplinary field that focuses on the detailed analysis of naturally occurring talk and the ways in which people engage in conversation and interact with one another. It is a systematic study of the structure and organization of conversation, aiming to understand the various strategies people employ when communicating with one another.
At its core, conversation analysis examines the subtle nuances, patterns, and rules that govern the flow of conversation, including turn-taking, sequence organization, repair, preference organization, and multimodal practices. By analyzing audio or video recordings of interactions, researchers can identify the specific techniques and structures used by participants to create coherent and meaningful interaction.
This approach places a heavy emphasis on context and the social nature of communication, seeking to understand how conversation is influenced by cultural norms, power dynamics, and situational factors. By examining talk-in-interaction, conversation analysts gain insights into phenomena such as speech acts, politeness, interruption, and the negotiation of meaning. The analysis may involve transcription, coding, and systematic analysis of the data collected.
Conversation analysis has a broad range of applications across various fields, from linguistics to sociology, anthropology, psychology, and communication studies. It helps uncover the underlying mechanisms and rules of conversation, shedding light on how communication shapes social reality and how individuals actively participate in constructing meaning through their talk.
Etymology of CONVERSATION ANALYSIS
The term "conversation analysis" has a relatively straightforward etymology. It is a compound term consisting of the words "conversation" and "analysis".
- "Conversation" comes from the Latin word "conversatio" which means "act of living with", "society", or "habitat". Over time, it evolved into the Old French word "conversation", which meant "behavior or speech between individuals". Ultimately, it entered the English language with the same meaning, referring to a spoken or written exchange between people.
- "Analysis" stems from the Greek word "analusis", which means "a breaking up" or "a loosening". It is derived from "ana" (up or back) and "lysis" (a loosening). The word "analysis" implies the process of examining something in detail by breaking or dissecting it into its constituents to understand its nature or meaning.
