Psychology 409b 3/31/06
Outline #10
Interpreting Interruption
By Cynthia Adams
Tannen, Deborah. Gender
& Discourse. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1994. (Pages 53-67).
Instructions for this activity are found at:
www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/g24-oral1.htm
Instructor: Dr. Leon James
1)
Interruption
a) Tannen addresses the theoretical issue of defining “interruption” to illustrate that interruption in not necessarily a display of dominance.
i) Researchers (West and Zimmerman, 1983) are typical in calling interruption a device for exercising power and control in conversation.
(1) Interruption violates the speaker’s turns at talking.
(2) Furthermore, they claim silence is a device for exercising dominance.
ii) This definition of interruption is often viewed, as the stereotypical idea of interruption in that, interruption is always used as a means of controlling the floor and there is an underlying assumption that conversation is an arrangement in which speakers take turns at talking.
iii) In her book, Tannen argues against this concept and offers that these assumptions are neither universal nor obvious.
(1) The differences vary with subcultural, cultural, and individual predisposition
(2) The differences are due to the context of various interactions
2)
Overlap and Interruption
a) Overlap can be identified when two voices are going at once.
b) There is an assumption that overlap always leads to interruption in conversation. Therefore, concluding that this interruption is a from of dominance in the conversation
c) Tannen argues against this point by demonstrating in her research that simultaneous speech an be interpreted as “cooperative overlapping”
i) This idea of hers reveals supportive rather than obstructive consequences.
ii) Overlap reveals participation and solidarity rather that dominance and power.
iii) Overlap is due to a person’s different style in conversation.
3) Males Interrupt Females
a) Studies and research indicates that men interrupt women more often.
b) Eakins and Eakins found at seven faculty meetings that men averaged a significantly higher number of interruptions than women.
c) Esposito found at 40 preschool that boys interrupted girls two to one.
d) Gleason and Greif found that fathers interrupt children more than mothers and that female children are interrupted more than male children.
4) Different Styles of Speaking
a) The “high involvement” style is when an individual that begins speaking while another speaker is currently speaking. The “high considerateness” style is an individual that hesitates; falters, or stops’ talking while another speaker is speaking.
b) Tannen claims that “high involvement” speakers place their priority on the need for positive face in order to show involvement and it is an exercise not of power, but of solidarity.
c) In contrast, Tannen claims that “high considerateness” speakers place more emphasis on serving the need for negative face in order to not impose. These speakers often feel interrupted and dominated during conversation.
Related Links
This site, which is geared toward women, offered very useful information about many subjects relating to families, parenting, sex and marriage. If you click on the links to right titled Love & Sex, then click under Marriage at the top, you will find a selection of topics relating to the art of conversation between the genders. The article titled the “ The active role of silence” further illustrates the role silence plays in many conversations.
2. http://www.georgetown.edu/faculty/tannend/
This link provides information about Deborah Tannen, her many books and audiovisual library. I included this site to offer more information about Deborah Tannen. This will allow anyone who might be interested in her work or regards to this topic they would have easy access to her home page. Information on her latest book is also provided here.
3. http://www.culture-at-work.com/conversation.html
This web site offers information in regards to communicating across cultures. The site provides a list of many elements, which structure conversations. And how the differences between speakers in any of these elements can lead to irritation, moral judgments, or misreading of intent. When there are tensions between the participants already, these conversational differences can cause serious ruptures. The site provides many other links to a variety of helpful information and resources in the area of different conservational styles.
My Homepage is:
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leon/409bs2006/adams/adams-home.htm
Class Home Page is:
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy24/classhome-g24.htm