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Introduction
For this assignment you will be analysing a face to face conversation between yourself and one other person that resulted in a communicative breakdown.
First step
Think of a face to face conversation that you have had with another person that resulted in a communicative breakdown. This could have happened for example, at home, at work, in the classroom, in a shop or in a leisure setting. It could have been in private or in public.
Transcript
Write out the conversation and number the lines or turns. There is no specified length for your conversation, but a guide is 10-25 turns. You can transcribe as much of your conversation as you judge you need: i.e. a normally flowing exchange leading into the breakdown, then the resolution of the breakdown, if this happens. If the breakdown is not resolved, then continue transcribing to show it persists.
You do not have to use any specific conventions of transcript writing, but if you do have knowledge of any of these and wish to use them, this is fine.
Your analysis
Your analysis of your transcript should be set out under the following headings:
1. 1) Context
Give the basic facts about the context of your conversation:
Participants (You should not give any identifiers, but can give gender, age etc. Participants can be referred to as ‘A’ (you) and ‘B’.
Setting
Topic
Power relationship of the interactants.
1. 2) Aims of the participants
What did you seek from the conversation? What do you believe the other participant was seeking from the conversation?
1. 3) The breakdown
(You can use additional headings in this section if you wish)
i. i) Exactly where in your conversation does the breakdown occur? Indicate the line or turn number.
ii. ii) Then analyse your breakdown, that is, explain why it happens, using relevant theory, i.e. Politeness Theory (Brown and Levinson 1987), Grice’s Theory, Theory of Mind. You should choose the appropriate theory or theories to analyse your conversation, for example:
• ¬ Is one interactant being irrelevant, not being truthful, not keeping to the order of events (e.g. in telling a story) expected by the other person, giving to much or too little information? Grice’s theory may be relevant.
• ¬ Does the breakdown occur because one speaker threatens the other’s face? Do both parties initially respect each other’s face by using appropriate strategies, but then stop doing this? Politeness Theory may be relevant.
• ¬ Does one speaker fail to put her / himself in the other’s place and see things from his / her point of view? Does one speaker fail to see what information is in the other person’s mind before addressing him / her? The Theory of Mind may be relevant.
If one or more theories is not relevant, then only talk about the one that is. However, if all the theories are relevant, it is fine to use them.
Set out the main ideas of the theory/theories you think apply, giving appropriate references to your reading. Go through the transcript systematically and apply the theory / theories at the relevant points. You should refer to the relevant points in your transcript by using line or turn numbers.
i. iii) Were there any other causes of the breakdown, not covered by your discussion so far? (Refer to reading, if possible)
ii. iv) Was the breakdown repaired, if so, who effected the repair?
1. 4) Outcomes
Were the aims of each participant met? If not, why not?
How could the communication been more successful, and at what point could this have taken place?
(This is the end of your analysis. There is no need to write a conclusion).
Bibliography
You should list all of the sources referred to in your work in a bibliography. See the guidelines on referencing in the EL&C Guide available on the module site under ‘teaching resources’. (It is vital you consult this guide if you have not previously completed any EL&C assignments that require referencing).
Other information about the assignment
The word count is 2000 +/- 10%. This count excludes your transcript and bibliography.
You must cite and reference a minimum of three printed sources (e-books count as ‘printed’). Web pages are in addition.
Marking criteria
Marks will be awarded for the following:
1. 1) A transcript showing a clear communicative breakdown.
2. 2) A thorough analysis using appropriate theory / theories.
3. 3) Knowledge and understanding of relevant theory.
4. 4) Evidence of reading.
5. 5) Correct referencing throughout and a complete bibliography.
6. 6) An appropriately set-out assignment with evidence of good writing skills and appropriate grammar.
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