Macrostructure in conversation

This paper attempts to show that certain structural relations that contribute to creating text in spoken and written monologue also bind segments together in conversation. Methodology is based on a model of text as consisting of sequences of a problem-solution structure. Analysis of texts from 12 purpose-oriented telephone conversations focuses on how macrostructural patterns are jointly created and made clear by the speakers in the course of the interaction. It is shown that speakers use two types of markers to clarify the macrostructure of the conversations: markers signaling the type of component in the problem-solution structure for a given unit, and markers that signal boundaries between units. Most markers of the latter type also focus attention on upcoming talk. Speakers used markers indicating the type of component in more than 50% of the structural units in the conversations, whereas 34% of the boundaries between units are specially marked. (Author/JP) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Cie Vis document has been reproduced as received born the person or organization originating it O Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of new Of °of mom Stated m this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or /Nancy -PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Macrostructure in conversation