Communicative functions: Interacting with others

Using formulaic expressions

Keeping track of information in a conversation (clarifying)

During a conversation speakers take turns one after the other, sometimes very rapidly, to keep the conversation going. All the speakers taking part have to keep track of the information in the turns. For example, speakers often ask questions to clarify information which they don't understand. Although clarifying questions are not formulaic expressions, students can be taught to use them in a formulaic way when they are just beginning to have conversations in English.

In this example from a children's conversation the first speaker introduces the new topic Ocean Park. The second speaker then confirms that she understands the topic:

		You know in Ocean Park when I went with my friend Emma and we ... um ... it was before I went with you.	changing the topic
		mm mm	confirming understanding of the new topic

In the next turn the first speaker starts to describe a new ride at Ocean Park. The second speaker answers and then asks a question to keep the conversation going:

	Have you been on the new ride?	question
	Well no.  Have you?	answer and a question to keep the conversation going
	It's really fun.	answer

Then a third speaker asks a question based on the question word what to clarify the topic. The first speaker answers and the second speaker interrupts to confirm she understands:

	What's the new ride?	question to clarify the topic
	It's the one where it goes up and it drops you down ...	answer
	Oh that!	confirming understanding
	... and it's the one next to the Eagle and the Galleon.	answer (continued)
	Oh yeah	confirming understanding

The third speaker then asks a question to clarify the topic even more:

	What's it called?	question to clarify the topic
	Abyss I think. The Abyss	answer
	I've seen it

The third speaker asks yet another question to clarify the topic:

	What does that mean?	question to clarify the topic
	An abyss is sort of like a big pit that you go into.	answer
	Cool

For more information see:

Text types: Texts for social interaction: Overview: Keeping the interaction going: Tracking what people say in interactions