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Part of
New Perspectives in Interactional Linguistic Research
Edited by Margret Selting and Dagmar Barth-Weingarten
[Studies in Language and Social Interaction 36] 2024
► pp. 73–102

Turn continuation in yeah/no responding turns

Glottalization and vowel linking as contrastive sound patterns

| King’s College London
| The Open University | University of York

This study makes an original contribution to the understanding of sound patterns in interaction by investigating glottalization and linking at word boundaries in naturally occurring talk. Specifically, the study shows how speakers of British English make use of the contrast between glottalized and linked vowel-fronted TCU boundaries in multi-unit turns. Second TCUs whose initial vowel is joined to the last sound of the first TCU routinely either extend or elaborate on the social action of the first TCU. Second TCUs whose initial vowel is glottalized routinely accomplish new actions that are distinct from those accomplished by the first TCU. After giving an overview of a wider collection of cases, the analysis focuses on yeah/no responding turns.

Keywords: phonetics, turn-taking, turn design, TCU, action formation, British English
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Multi-unit turn design and the TCU
  • 3.Glottalization and linking in speech and conversation
    • 3.1Glottalization
    • 3.2Linking
    • 3.3Glottalization and linking as interactional resources in German and French
  • 4.Yeah/no responses followed by same-speaker talk
  • 5.Conceptual approach, data, and methodology
  • 6.Glottalization and linking of vowel-fronted TCUs in British English
    • 6.1General tendencies of glottalized and linked TCU boundaries in British English
    • 6.2Glottalization and linking of yeah/no responding turns
      • 6.2.1Action extensions
      • 6.2.2Action elaborations
      • 6.2.3New actions
  • 7.Concluding discussion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
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