supermarket 1

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Shopping 1	John and Naeema

introduction > Notes: Draw attention to the features of interactional and transactional language used by the speakers. See end of document for further information. Successful conversations rely on participants' knowledge of when it's time to talk and when it's time to keep quiet and listen; and good conversationalists manage their turn taking with minimal gaps and minimal overlaps. Often, however, even with expert speakers, turn taking runs into difficulties. The conversation below contains examples of such difficulties. Listening to the recording and reading the transcript, try to identify the problems in turns 1-4, 17&18, 26&27,33&34, (see Word document for line references) and see how these problems are repaired. Throughout the sample conversation sounds such as 'uhm', 'er', and 'erm' are used, both at the beginning and in the midst of turns. What is their function and how do they contribute to smooth turn taking? For discussion How can a knowledge of the mechanics of turn taking be put to use in everyday conversation?
transcript > Click the audio player on the left to listen. Naeema: Hi. Has the butter moved? Uh- John: [Erm ] Naeema: [It used] to be here. John: Wha- what kind of butter is it you're looking for? Naeema: I'm looking for unsalted butter. John: OK. Should be here somewhere. Erm tt just down here on the right. Here's all the butter Naeema: Oh. Yeh. There it is. And organic too. Great. I have high blood pressure you know. I'm not supposed to have salt. John: Ah that's a shame. I love salt. The more the better for me. Especially on my fish and chips. Naeema: It's not good for you, you know. John: Is it not? Naeema: No. No. It does all sorts of horrible things. John: Well, I'd better look out then, uh? Naeema: Mmm. John: Anyway, so there's you- there's your butter. Anything else I can help you with? Naeema: Oh yes, yes. I'm also looking for some black pepper. Pepper corns actually. John: OK. They're along here one the- on the left as well. Next to the butter. Naeema: Oh. Oh well that's easy. Right. I have a few more things I can't find so I'm- you know , could I just sort of ca- ca- get you [for a bit longer] John: [OK well you ] you get your erm your peppercorns and then I'll er I'll I'll take you round to the rest. Naeema: OK. Er, now then I also needed some noodles. Now I can see the plain noodles but d'you have any spicy noodles? John: D'you wan' them in pots or in packets? Naeema: Er packets actually. I've some friends coming round for dinner. John: OK. Along here. You like your spicy stuff, eh? Naeema: Yes. John: There's salt in here you know. Naeema: Ohh! You shouldn't have told me. I could have pretended not to. Oh well, go on then. Maybe I'll make up my own spice mixture and get some plain noodles . John: Okay. An' anything else I can [help you with?] Naeema: [Oh yes, yes, ] some wholemeal bread please. Uhm, a large loaf? Er. does it come sliced? John: Yah, plenty of sliced bread down there. Aisle eighteen Naeema: Ok.. John: On the right Naeema: Ok. okay. I'll go and look for that an' and the final thing on my list.. erm. erm. I'm looking for low fat milk, er you know one of the large four litre bottles? John: Okay, they 're down there, aisle twenny..nine. Err.. low fat milk's more expensive-because the supplier's started charging more. Naeema: Oh why's that? [That's ] a bit cheeky! John: [I dunno.] Yah. I don' know , must. must be more expensive to take the fat out Naeema: But then you see if I have full fat milk then I have to spend more money on clothes because I keep growing out of them
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