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Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
Vol. 23:1 (2000) ► pp.95–107

Telephone openings in Samoan

| Department of Education, Samoa
| Australian National University

Many studies of telephone interaction have concentrated on the opening sequences of telephone calls using the model developed by Schegloff (1968, 1979, 1986) using North American data as a starting point. This study uses this model as a starting point to examine telephone openings in Samoa. A comparison between Samoan telephone calls shows many similarities with Schegloff’s model, but also shows that some features of the interaction are culturally variable. These variations are primarily variations in the frequency and distribution of activities within the opening section, rather than a difference in type. In particular, Samoan telephone openings are typified by a reduced use of greetings, different types of phatic moves and less reciprocity.

Published online: 1 January 2000
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/aral.23.1.06soo
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