Unit 9

• 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