Text types: Texts for social interaction

Overview

When two or more people are together they almost always speak to each other, ie they interact with each other socially.

When we interact socially, we use language to exchange meanings about: what we know and think what we need and want how we feel

When people use spoken language to interact socially in this way, each person takes a turn at speaking and the speakers build a text together. This type of text is called a dialogue or a spoken interaction.

Here is an extract from a conversation between three children. As each child takes a turn, the text unfolds into a conversation. The turns keep the conversation going:

How long are social interactions?

Sometimes a social interaction is very short. For example, a text for social interaction might be any of the following: a simple exchange of greetings a question asking for some information and the response a request for something

At other times a text for social interaction can be quite long. For example, when we meet our friends for a chat, or if we are negotiating the price of an expensive item, the conversation or negotiation may continue for some time.

Why do we use texts for social interaction?

We use texts for social interaction to:

	exchange information, eg when we ask where something is
	exchange goods and services, eg when we buy things in a shop
	build social relationships, eg when we have a conversation with our friends
	learn from and with others, eg in a classroom at school

When and where do we use texts for social interaction?

	We use texts for social interaction when we are with people at the same place or when we use the telephone to speak to people who are in a different place. We also use texts for social interaction when we send emails and 'chat' to people on the computer. In this situation there is often a time delay in the exchange of responses. At school, students use texts for social interaction in the classroom and the playground when they speak to each other and the teacher.

How can these pages help me?

In these pages you will find answers to the following questions:

	How are texts for social interaction structured?
	What are the typical grammatical features of texts for social interaction?
	How can I use texts for social interaction in the classroom?

Sample texts

For examples of texts for social interaction which have been analysed to illustrate their structure and key grammatical features, click on the menu on the left.

Tell me more ... Different types of social interaction Spoken language The language of social interaction Greetings and closings Keeping the interaction going Keeping the interaction going: Three-turn interaction pattern Keeping the interaction going: Tracking what people say in interactions Keeping the interaction going: Challenging what people say in interactions Linking turns to create texts for social interaction

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