Talk in Action: Interactions, Identities, and Institutions

Talk in Action explores the workings of language and interaction in the everyday life of institutions. In doing so, it introduces students to the methodology of Conversation Analysis (CA) and its applications in the real world.

Beginning with a theoretical and methodological overview of the roots of CA, the book explores the intersections between interactional practices, social identities, and institutional tasks. By focusing on four institutional domains emergency telephone calls, doctor patient interactions, law courts, and mass communication the authors showcase the significance of CA research in areas that have deep impact and significance in our daily lives. 

This expanding, dynamic field crosses the boundaries of subjects such as linguistics, sociology, and communication studies. Talk in Action provides a necessarily interdisciplinary overview of Conversation Analysis, using a unique focus on real–world applications to provide an engaging and accessible introduction.

1 Introduction 1

Part 1 Conversation Analysis and Social Institutions 5

2 Conversation Analysis: Some Theoretical Background 7

3 Talking Social Institutions into Being 20

4 Dimensions of Institutional Talk 34

Part 2 Calls for Emergency Service 51

5 Emergency Calls as Institutional Talk 53

6 Gatekeeping and Entitlement to Emergency Service 69

7 Emergency Calls under Stress 87

Part 3 Doctor Patient Interaction 101

8 Patients Presentations of Medical Issues: The Doctor s Problem 103

9 Patients Presentations of Medical Issues: The Patient s Problem 119

10 History Taking in Medicine: Questions and Answers 135

11 Diagnosis and Treatment: Medical Authority and Its Limits 154

Part 4 Trials, Juries, and Dispute Resolution 171

12 Trial Examinations 173

13 Jury Deliberations 186

14 Informal Modes of Dispute Resolution 200

Part 5 News and Political Communication 213

15 News Interview Turn Taking 215

16 Question Design in the News Interview and Beyond 227

17 Answers and Evasions 245

18 Interaction en Masse: Audiences and Speeches 263

19 Conclusion 280

Transcript Symbols 283

References 288

Index of Names 304

Index of Subjects 309

Steven Clayman is Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. He has written extensively on topics relating to conversation analysis and is co–author, with John Heritage, of The News Interview: Journalists and Public Figures on the Air (2002). John Heritage is Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Los Angeles. His publications include Garfinkel and Ethnomethodology (1984) and Communication in Medical Care: Interaction between Primary Care Physicians and Patients (2006).

"More specifically, this book provides an excellent recapitulation of empirical work in four key areas of institutional talk.   ( Journal of Sociolinguistics , 1 February 2013) Lastly, as a more general recommendation, I should say that anyone interested in the intersection of context, identity and talk–in interaction would not be spending their time poorly by exploring some of the chapters in this exceptionally well–designed book, and I feel it is safe to say that this book will remain the go–to foundational text for Institutional Conversational Analysis for some time to come.   (Journal of Language and Politics, 2012) As a whole, Talk in Action: Interactions, Identities and Institutionsis a highly recommended, state–of–the–art book for researchers who wish to explore naturally occurring processes and self–construction in face–to–face and telephone institutional communication.   ( Discourse and Communication , 1 November 2012) As such, this volume provides a valuable guide to analytical tools for understanding institutional talk. Useful for students and emerging scholars of CA and institutional talk, this volume sheds light on both the analytical approach and conceptual themes that are relevant within these domains and beyond.   ( Discourse Studies , 2012) "By providing crisp, cogent, and compelling introductions to the fundamentals of CA, these books by Sidnell and Heritage & Clayman will undoubtedly not only help teachers create "Aha" experiences for their students (Tannen 1984), but also attract and inspire future generations of conversation analytic scholars." (Language in Society, 2011) "Among the great assets of this publication is the comprehensive coverage of research on the areas in focus, conversation analytic or otherwise. This makes the book a perfect starting point for anyone interested in institutional interaction of the varieties described here. True to its conversation analytic roots, the book manages to combine this large–scale overview of the literature with detailed analysis, which is always highly relevant and revealing. This book is an impressive scholarly achievement, spanning a vast amount of research and a wide variety of institutional settings. Any student of talk –– institutional or otherwise –– will find this an indispensable source of conversation analytic insight." (Linguist List, November 2010) Heritage′s and Clayman′s book is a comprehensive introduction to the conversation analytic approach to institutional talk, focusing on emergency telephone calls, doctor–patient interactions, interaction in court, and news interviews / mass communication . . .overall, however, this book is an impressive scholarly achievement, spanning a vast amount of research and a wide variety of institutional settings. Any student of talk – institutional or otherwise – will find this an indispensable source of conversation analytic insight." (LinguistList.), 1 November 2010) "Among the great assets of this publication is the comprehensive coverage of research on the areas in focus, conversation analytic or otherwise. This makes the book a perfect starting point for anyone interested in institutional interaction of the varieties described here. True to its conversation analytic roots, the book manages to combine this large–scale overview of the literature with detailed analysis, which is always highly relevant and revealing. This book is an impressive scholarly achievement, spanning a vast amount of research and a wide variety of institutional settings. Any student of talk –– institutional or otherwise –– will find this an indispensable source of conversation analytic insight." (Linguist List, November 2010)