Chapter 8

• Define conversation and what makes it unique to other forms of interaction.

• Recognize basic conversational structure and how it works.

• Synthesize Grice’s Maxims with basic conversational structure.

• Describe the greeting process and its importance to conversation.

• Analyze the typical greeting sequence as it occurs in real conversation.

• Apply opening techniques to begin conversations with unacquainted people.

• Describe the process of topicalization and its role in conversation.

• Apply topicalization techniques that eliciting conversation of increased breadth and depth.

• Differentiate kinds of closing sequences used in everyday conversation.

• Apply pre-closing techniques to effectively close conversation.

MODULE 1: PRINCIPLES OF CONVERSATION

• Grice’s Maxims

• What is conversation?

• Basic Conversational Structure

MODULE 2: OPENING CONVERSATION

• Greeting Rituals

• 5 Types of Openings Among Unacquainted

• Typical Greeting Sequence

MODULE 3: ELICITING CONVERSATION

• Topic Elicitors

• Topicalization

• Four Layers of Talk

MODULE 4: CLOSING CONVERSATION

• Interactional Challenges

• Pre-Closing Sequences

• Two Types of Conversational Endings

• Rejection of Closing Sequences

Daniel Usera