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The interplay between agency and constraint: some departures from the organization of talk in the classroom

  • Charikleia Kapellidi

    Charikleia Kapellidi obtained her PhD in Sociolinguistics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2011. For about three years she worked as a researcher on the project “Greek talk-in-interaction and conversation analysis,” carried out under Th.-S. Pavlidou’s direction at the Institute of Modern Greek Studies. Her general interests lie in the social dimension of various phenomena, while her current research focuses on classroom interaction from a conversation analytic perspective.

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Published/Copyright: June 13, 2015

Abstract

Since the first description of classroom talk from a conversation analytic perspective, the field has significantly expanded, providing a comprehensive account of the system that operates in the specific setting. However, apart from the system that defines the boundaries of the participants’ permissible conduct, the departures from it have received little attention, forming a vague picture of the parties’ opportunities for deviant behavior. The present paper explores exactly this aspect, illuminating the other side of the coin. In particular, students’ departures from the canonical pattern are examined and a broad classification of them (institutionally oriented versus institution-threatening departures) is proposed. The analysis demonstrates the import of those departures and the way they contribute to students’ exercise of agency.

About the author

Charikleia Kapellidi

Charikleia Kapellidi obtained her PhD in Sociolinguistics at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2011. For about three years she worked as a researcher on the project “Greek talk-in-interaction and conversation analysis,” carried out under Th.-S. Pavlidou’s direction at the Institute of Modern Greek Studies. Her general interests lie in the social dimension of various phenomena, while her current research focuses on classroom interaction from a conversation analytic perspective.

Appendix: transcription symbols

The transcription system conforms to the standard conventions of conversation analysis (cf. e.g., Jefferson 2004; Sacks et al. 1974; Schegloff 2007).

[

overlap onset

]

overlap end

=

latching

(0.8)

silence in tenths of a second

(.)

micro-pause (less than 0.5 second)

.

falling/final intonation

?

rising intonation

,

continuing/non-final intonation

¿

a rise stronger than a comma but weaker than a question mark

:

prolongation or stretching of the sound

word

emphasis (increased loudness or higher pitch)

°

markedly quiet or soft talk

-

cut-off or self-interruption

sharp intonation rise

>word<

compressed or rushed talk

<word>

slowed or drawn out talk

.h

inhalation

((laughs))

meta-/para-linguistic or non-conversational information

(…)

incomprehensible talk

(word)

possible talk

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Published Online: 2015-6-13
Published in Print: 2015-7-1

©2015 by De Gruyter Mouton

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