Introduction

Glossary of important terms

Notes on transcription

Section A Narrative

This section consists of anecdotes told with active listener participation.

Dangerous childhood pranks

Flying over Budapest

Ken's mother

Section B Identifying

This section consists of extracts in which people talk about themselves, and their present and past lives.

Two old friends meet up again

An elderly lady reminisces

Section C Language-in-action

This section has extracts recorded while people were doing things, (e.g. cooking, moving things, packing, etc.).

Doing a job

Cooking rice

Section D Comment-elaboration

Extracts of people giving casual opinions and commenting on things, other people, events, etc. around them and in their daily lives.

Family and relatives

Two teachers chatting

Students chatting round the tea-table

Section E Service encounters

Extracts in a variety of goods-and-services settings.

At the post office

Ordering food in a restaurant

At the hairdresser's

Section F Debate and argument

Extracts in which people take up positions, pursue arguments, expound on their opinions on a range of matters.

Local radio phone-in

Student discussion

Section G Language, learning and interaction

Language in an institutional sense and in the context of learning.

School discussion

Kid's stuff

University tutorial

Section H Decision-making/negotiating outcomes

Extracts in which people work towards decisions/consensus or negotiate their way through problems towards solutions.

Planning a family holiday

Publisher's planning meeting

References