Conversational genres by Araceli Merenda

aracelimerenda10 — 2016-06-14 23:12:49 UTC

Identifying

aracelimerenda10 — 2016-06-14 23:13:00 UTC

Identifying

aracelimerenda10 — 2016-06-17 15:09:26 UTC

This genre is characterized by being interactional since the language is used to socialize.
In this genre, people share their personal lives such as:their hobbies, likes and dislikes, family, etc.
The conversations are related to very private events and they generally open with a question.

The following tape exemplifies this conversational genre because:

The vocabulary used is typical of informal conversation such as the word horny ,which is an example of slang.
The speakers cooperation is shown through speakers support: Yeah,right!
The use of ellipsis: or (he had to) forever hold his peace.
Comments in response to the topic include some evaluations: S3-I guess you could call it that.
S2-You're so bad!
It opens with a question, a typical characteristic of this genre: what happened with Eric last night?
No one speaker seems to control the conversation

The situation takes place an hour before S3 gets married.

S1 - S2 < bridesmaids>
S3

S1- I'm so happy you picked this dress, Veruca!
S2-You look beautiful. Doesn't she?
S3-You guys, I'm getting married! I'm getting married!
S1-Not without your veil, you're not. Where is that bad boy?
S3-Oh, I think I left it upstairs.
S1-Don't worry. I'll get it.
S1-So, tell us, what happened with Eric last night?
S3-So, I told him if he wanted to stop the wedding,he had to speak now or forever hold his peace.
S2-And what'd he say?
S3-He said he's never gonna settle down, and I should just go ahead and marry Danny.
S2-Did he give you a wedding present, huh?
S1-You're so horny! Yeah.
S3-I guess you could call it that.
S2-You're so bad!
S3-It's the last time, I swear.
S1 and S2-Yeah, right!
S3-Danny is so sweet and considerate.And he's gonna be a cardiologist.So, I'm marrying him and that zucchini in the middle of his face.

Language in action

aracelimerenda10 — 2016-06-17 17:59:39 UTC

Language in action

aracelimerenda10 — 2016-06-17 21:49:13 UTC

It is defined as the language which accompanies the task in hand.
The following scene of the movie "The pursuit of happiness" is a clear illustration of this genre since it is characterized by:

The conversation being dependent on the immediate situation.
People not mentioning what is directly in front of them because they share the same context.
People referring to what they can see using deitic references such as THAT, HERE and THIS.
The use of ellipsis.
More silence that normal while the activity takes place and speakers being unchallenged because it occurs while the speaker is concentrating on an activity.

Before watching the video, read the transcript. Do you realise what's happening? If you do, at what point? Why do you think it is difficult to know exactly what the speakers are discussing?
S1
S2
The conversation takes place during a taxi ride

S1-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This thing's impossible.

S2- I can do it.
S1-No, you can't. No one can. That's bullshit.
S2- No, I'm pretty sure I can do it.

S1 -No, you can't.
S2- Let me see it. Give it here. Oh, yeah. Oh, wow, you really messed it up.

S1 -Sorry.

S2 -It looks like it works around a swivel, so the center pieces never move. So if it's yellow in the center, that's the yellow side. If it's red in the center, that's the red side. Okay. - So... You can slow down.

S1 -Listen, we can drive around all day. I don't believe you can do this.

S2- Yeah, I can.
S1- No, you can't. (laughs)

S2- Yes, I can.
S1- No, you can't (laughs). I'm telling you, no one can. See? That's all I ever do. You almost have this side. Holy cow. You almost had that one.

S2- I'm gonna get it.

S1-Look at that. You're almost there.