Child-adult interaction in two conversational modes Conversational asymmetry re-examined

KUMIKO KAWAMURA

doi:10.4992/psycholres1954.27.133

Child-adult interaction in two conversational modes

Conversational asymmetry re-examined

KUMIKO KAWAMURA

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Keywords: child-adult interaction, conversational asymmetry, speaking turn, question, 2-year-old

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1985 Volume 27 Issue 3 Pages 133-144

DOI https://doi.org/10.4992/psycholres1954.27.133

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Published: December 20, 1985 Received: July 13, 1984 Available on J-STAGE: February 24, 2009 Accepted: June 29, 1985 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Duncan, S., & Fiske, D. W. 1977 Face-to-face interaction. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Fienberg, S. E. 1977 The analysis of cross-classified categorical data. Massachusetts: MIT Press.
Kaye, K. 1982 The mental and social life of babies. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kaye, K., & Charney, R. 1980 How mothers maintain “dialogue” with two-year-olds. In D. Olson (Ed.), The social foundations of language and thought. New York: Norton. Pp. 211-230.
Kendon, A. 1967 Some functions of gaze-direction in social interaction. Acta Psychologica, 26, 22-63.
Lieven, E. 1978 Turn-taking and pragmatics. In R. N. Campbell & P. T. Smith (Eds.), Recent advances in the psychology of language: Language development and mother-child interaction. Vol. 4a. New York: Plenum Press. Pp. 215-235.
Nelson, K. 1983 The derivation of concepts and categories from event representations. In E. K. Scholnick (Ed.), New trends in conceptual representation: Challenges to Piaget's theory? New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Pp. 129-149.
Shields, M. M. 1978 Some communicational skills of young children. In R. N. Campbell & P. T. Smith (Eds.), Recent advances in the psychology of language: Language development and mother-child interaction. Vol. 4a. New York: Plenum Press. Pp. 313-335.
Snow, C. E. 1978 The conversational context of language. In R. N. Campbell & P. T. Smith (Eds.), Recent advances in the psychology of language: Language development and mother-child interaction. Vol. 4a. New York: Plenum Press. Pp. 253-269.

Right : Duncan, S., & Fiske, D. W. 1977 Face-to-face interaction. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Fienberg, S. E. 1977 The analysis of cross-classified categorical data. Massachusetts: MIT Press.
Kaye, K. 1982 The mental and social life of babies. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Kaye, K., & Charney, R. 1980 How mothers maintain “dialogue” with two-year-olds. In D. Olson (Ed.), The social foundations of language and thought. New York: Norton. Pp.211-230.
Kendon, A. 1967 Some functions of gaze-direction in social interaction. Acta Psychologica, 26, 22-63.
Lieven, E. 1978 Turn-taking and pragmatics. In R. N. Campbell & P. T. Smith (Eds.), Recent advances in the psychology of language: Language development and mother-child interaction. Vol.4a. New York: Plenum Press. Pp.215-235.
Nelson, K. 1983 The derivation of concepts and categories from event representations. In E. K. Scholnick (Ed.), New trends in conceptual representation: Challenges to Piaget's theory? New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Pp.129-149.
Shields, M. M. 1978 Some communicational skills of young children. In R. N. Campbell & P. T. Smith (Eds.), Recent advances in the psychology of language: Language development and mother-child interaction. Vol.4a. New York: Plenum Press. Pp.313-335.
Snow, C. E. 1978 The conversational context of language. In R. N. Campbell & P. T. Smith (Eds.), Recent advances in the psychology of language: Language development and mother-child interaction. Vol.4a. New York: Plenum Press. Pp.253-269.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : Linguistic behavior of a 2-year-old and of four adults in dyadic interaction were examined in two conversational modes: One where the topic was about an on-the-spot object with object-related side activities involved, and the other where the topic was not about an on-thespot object with no side activity involved. Cross-classified tables of speaking turns were analyzed to determine how the probabilities that one's turn included certain components (response, spontaneous utterance, question, confirmation) were influenced by mode and the partner's preceding turn. It was found that in the former mode, the child was more active and made spontaneous utterances frequently, responded well to “given” questions yet poorly to “new” ones; the adult asked fewer questions and responded with shorter confirmations. In contrast, in the latter mode, the child was reserved and made fewer spontaneous utterances, responded well to “new” questions yet poorly to “given” ones; the adult actively asked both “new” and “given” questions. Thus, dynamic variations of conversational asymmetry were observed and their implications for the child's development discussed.
Right : Linguistic behavior of a 2-year-old and of four adults in dyadic interaction were examined in two conversational modes: One where the topic was about an on-the-spot object with object-related side activities involved, and the other where the topic was not about an on-the-spot object with no side activity involved. Cross-classified tables of speaking turns were analyzed to determine how the probabilities that one's turn included certain components (response, spontaneous utterance, question, confirmation) were influenced by mode and the partner's preceding turn. It was found that in the former mode, the child was more active and made spontaneous utterances frequently, responded well to “given” questions yet poorly to “new” ones; the adult asked fewer questions and responded with shorter confirmations. In contrast, in the latter mode, the child was reserved and made fewer spontaneous utterances, responded well to “new” questions yet poorly to “given” ones; the adult actively asked both “new” and “given” questions. Thus, dynamic variations of conversational asymmetry were observed and their implications for the child's development discussed.

Abstract

Linguistic behavior of a 2-year-old and of four adults in dyadic interaction were examined in two conversational modes: One where the topic was about an on-the-spot object with object-related side activities involved, and the other where the topic was not about an on-the-spot object with no side activity involved. Cross-classified tables of speaking turns were analyzed to determine how the probabilities that one's turn included certain components (response, spontaneous utterance, question, confirmation) were influenced by mode and the partner's preceding turn. It was found that in the former mode, the child was more active and made spontaneous utterances frequently, responded well to “given” questions yet poorly to “new” ones; the adult asked fewer questions and responded with shorter confirmations. In contrast, in the latter mode, the child was reserved and made fewer spontaneous utterances, responded well to “new” questions yet poorly to “given” ones; the adult actively asked both “new” and “given” questions. Thus, dynamic variations of conversational asymmetry were observed and their implications for the child's development discussed.

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