How an emergency call is accomplished through 119 talk?

Abstract

In this paper, some properties of calls for emergency help is considered. The data sets are derived from the audio-taped telephone calls placed to a 119 dispatch center during the summer of 1994. For any hearer of the tapes or reader of the transcribed calls, it is ‘obvious’ that these are calls of emergency, yet, the question remains: How are they accomplished? This paper elucidates three main features of this talk. Firstly, in the topical opening of talk, the dispatch personnel ask the caller for the emergency category relevant to his or her needs, namely “Fire or Ambulance?”. Secondly, in the middle of the talk, both co-conversants confirm paticular relevancies of the emergency call, e.g., “Are there any injured persons?”. Thirdly, in the closing of talk, almost all the dispatchers announce that an emergency vehicle is on the way. Through such practices, members produce 119 talk into a call for help.