Communicative Strategies

Types (7)

- nomination - restriction - turn-taking - topic control - topic shifting - repair - termination

Communicative Strategies

- "Since engaging in conversation is also bound by implicit rule, strategies must be used to start and maintain a conversation" (Cohen, 1990)

Nomination (4)

- a speaker carries out nomination to collaboratively and productively establish a topic - usually used when you try to open a topic with people you are talking to - when starting a conversation, especially if it does not arise from a previous topic, u may start off with news inquiries and news announcements as they promise extended talk - keep the conversational environment open for opinions until the prior topic shuts down easily and initiates a smooth end, this signals the beginning for a new topic

Topic Control (7)

- covers how procedural formality or informality affects the development of topic in conversations - eg. in a meeting, you may have a turn to speak after the chairperson directs you to do so/ in a conversation w friends, you may take the conversational floor anytime - similar to nomination bc it can be used to open a topic but topic control can also be used to steer the conversation back to the relevant topic - involves moving from one topic to another - regardless of the formality of the context, topic control is achieved cooperatively - when a topic is initiated, it should be collectively developed by avoiding unnecessary interruptions and topic shifts - make yourself actively involved in the conversation without dominating it by using minimal responses like "yes, okay" and asking questions like "you are excited, aren't you?"

Topic Shifting (5)

- involves moving from one topic to another - where one part of a conversation ends and where another begins - when shifting from one topic to another, you have to be intuitive - make sure that the previous topic was nurtured enough to generate adequate views - use conversational transitions like "by the way", "in addition

Turn-taking (6)

- pertains to the process by which people decide who takes the conversational floor - there is a code of behavior behind establishing a productive convo but the primary idea is to give all communicators a chance to speak - remember to keep your words relevant and reasonably short enough to express your views and feelings - be polite even if you are trying to take the floor form another speaker - do not hog the convo and talk incessantly without letting the other party cut out their own ideas - to acknowledge others, u may employ visual signals like nodding, a look, or a step back and accompany these signals with spoken cues such as "what do you think?" or "you wanted to say something?"

Termination (3)

- process of ending a conversation - most of the time, topic initiator takes responsibility to sign signal to end the discussion as well - although topics may not have clear ends, try to signal the topic through concluding cues such as sharing what you learned or soliciting agreement

Restriction (3)

- refers to any limitation you may have as a speaker - eg. you teacher assigns a speech on peer pressure, you cannot decide to talk about something else - always be on point and avoid sideswiping from the topic to avoid communication breakdown

Repair (3)

- refers to how speaker address the problems in speaking, listening and comprehending that they may encounter in a convo - repair is the self righting mechanism in any social interaction (Schegloff et al, 1977) - if there is a problem understanding the conversation, speakers will always try to address and correct it but always seek to initiate the repair as the listener