Abstract
Using conversation analytic approaches, this study aims to demonstrate how turn-taking system in sign language conversations is achieved and organized by arranging participants' gazes. Previous sign language studies have evinced the multi-modal nature of sign language structure. However, approaches from interactive points of view have started and published research results just in the last decade. Following on these recent approaches, I analyzed participants' gaze shifts at turn-taking and discuss the orderliness of gaze shifts in sign language conversations. More specifically, I obtained the following two findings. First, the return of a speaker's gaze after to a hearer before pre-completion point will project a TRP. Second, if a simultaneous talk occurs, participants' gaze is used as an overlap resolution device. I hope that these findings will contribute to discussions about sign language interactions, and more generally various interactive behaviors in other kinds of human interactions.
