Second Language Conversations

Advances in Applied Linguistics

by Rod Gardner (Editor), Srikant Sarangi (Editor), Christopher N. Candlin (Editor)

Conversations involving speakers whose first language is not the language in which they are talking have become widespread in the globalized world. Migration and increased travel for business or pleasure - as well as communication through new technologies such as the internet - make Second Language Conversations an increasingly common everyday event. Here, Conversation Analysis is used to explore natural, casual talk between speakers in a second language. The contributors shift emphasis away from controlled contexts such as the classroom towards more sociable environments in which people go about their daily routines. English, German, French, Japanese, Finnish and Danish are all analyzed as second languages within a variety of professional, educational and sociable situations. This collection of essays aims to present naturally occurring Second Language Conversations in order to show what speakers in these situations do; how they utilize first language conversational practices, and whether or not grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation help or hinder the construction of meaning.

292 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004