Talk In Action

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.

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.

Talk in Action examines the language, identity, and interaction of social institutions, introducing students to the research methodology of Conversation Analysis.

• Features a unique focus on real-world applications of CA by examining four institutional domains: calls to emergency numbers, doctor-patient interaction, courtroom trials, and mass communication,
• Provides a theoretical and methodological overview of the roots of CA, reviewing the main developments and findings of research on talk and social institutions conducted over the past 25 years
• Showcases the significance of this subject to everyday events, making it ideal for students coming to the field for the first time
• Written by two leading figures in the field of Conversation Analysis