Transcript Extract
....
Sophie: so literally in the middle of the page (.) are you ready?
Isabel: [laughs]
Sophie: oh my god, are you laughing at my spot? (0.5)
Isabel: no! [laughs] that's on record!
Sophie: okay, so in the middle of the page (.) there's a backwards 'C', and it's about (3) four centimetres long (1)
Isabel: yeah (.)
Sophie: and where it ends (.) there's like (.) a 'C' the right way round, the same size, right (.) are you listening?
Isabel: yeah [laughs]
Sophie: right (.) now in the middle of that... (2)
Isabel: in the middle of what?
Sophie: in the middle of the 'C' you just drew (1) the backwards one (.)
Analysis
In the text the power of the two speakers is equal, because we are both similar ages and have equal status and respect for one another. However, because of the task, Sophie will speak more as she is describing what needs to be drawn and is instructing me, and therefore it requires longer amounts of time to speak. I am usually just back-channelling to show understanding or using an interrogative about the task, in which I am usually encouraging the speaker almost channelling 'underneath' Sophie as she speaks. This could be interpreted that she has more power, but because of our knowledge of the context, this is not the case.
There are a few timed pauses within the extract, usually when I am thinking about the instruction I have been given, or when Sophie is working out the spacing on the page or thinking about how she can explain the shapes to me to draw them effectively. Another timed pause in the transcript is when Sophie says: 'now in the middle of that', and this shows that I did not have the pragmatic understanding to follow on from the instruction and draw what she was about to explain, and therefore had to ask 'in the middle of what?'. This shows that we can be co-operative with one another and together can communicate strongly and effectively.
In the conversation, I do laugh regularly, particularly in this extract. This suggests that we are comfortable around one another and perhaps the context in relatively informal. In contrast, it could also suggest that I am more powerful, because I'm allowed to laugh when I like or when I feel it's appropriate however Sophie only laughs when it is acceptable for her to do so after I have laughed myself. It can be interpreted in different ways, however again, because of my knowledge of the context, I know that I am not more powerful.
In the conversation, I do laugh regularly, particularly in this extract. This suggests that we are comfortable around one another and perhaps the context in relatively informal. In contrast, it could also suggest that I am more powerful, because I'm allowed to laugh when I like or when I feel it's appropriate however Sophie only laughs when it is acceptable for her to do so after I have laughed myself. It can be interpreted in different ways, however again, because of my knowledge of the context, I know that I am not more powerful.
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