Text types: Texts for social interaction

Overview

Keeping the interaction going: Challenging what people say in interactions

In spoken interactions we sometimes challenge what people say. We do this for three main reasons:

	We don't want to support what a speaker says
	We don't agree with a speaker

We don't want to talk to a speaker

We don't want to support what a speaker says

If we don't want to support what a speaker says, we often try to find an escape:

I think he's a terrible actor.
- I haven't seen many of his films.

We don't agree with a speaker

If we don't agree with a speaker we may contradict what is said. Sometimes we may disagree in a blunt or abrupt way:

They're yummy.
- No they're not. They're not nice.

 If we want to soften our disagreement we can adjust it with a hesitation, or a word like just:

They're yummy.
- Oh, but they're not as nice as those other ones.

Felix is such a naughty cat!
- He's just a playful kitten.

This food is terrible.
- It's not so bad.

Sometimes we add some extra information:

I don't like fish.
- Don't you? I like tuna and I love those chewy things. 

We can also disagree to different degrees:

It's boring playing by yourself.
- Maybe

It's boring playing by yourself.
- Sometimes

It's boring playing by yourself.
- Never!

We don't want to talk to a speaker

If we don't want to talk to someone we may refuse to give them our attention when they greet us or call us. We can do this either by ignoring them, or saying something such as Go away! Leave me alone!. Note that this can be considered quite rude.

Hello.
- Go away.