This document provides definitions and examples of linguistic terms related to conversation analysis including fillers, paralinguistic features, prosodic features, overlapping speech, active listening, interruptions, pauses, and false starts. It then outlines activities for students to analyze conversations focusing on paralinguistic features, prosodic features, and using linguistic terminology to annotate a transcript of an interview with Greg Rutherford. Finally, it poses questions about the power dynamics and linguistic behaviors demonstrated in the interview.

1. Key terms for today:
Filler- used to fill time while thinking e.g. ‘um’, ‘err’
Paralinguistic- what you see (body language and
gestures)
Prosodic- what you hear (tone, pitch...)
Overlapping- when people talk over each other
Active listening- when someone explains
something, the listener may say things like ‘uh
huh’ or ‘yep’ to show they are paying attention.
Interruption- when one person stops talking
because another interrupts.
Pauses- breaks in speech.
False starts- where the speaker back-tracks.

2. Activity 1: Paralinguistic features
• We are going to watch a clip without sound.
• List down any ways that you can tell how the
characters are feeling (like body
language/facial expressions).

3. Activity 2-Prosodic features
In pairs I want you to SILENTLY count from 1-5,
using your voice in different way to show your
meaning. Try:
1.Questioning
2.Angry
3.Cautiously
4.Shocked/surprised
5.Sadly
6.Secretively

4. Some more terminology...

5. Tag question...
• A tag question is when an imperative
statement (we are going to the shops) is
turned into a question by adding a question.
“We are going to the shops, aren’t we?”
• Write the definition and do your own example

6. Ellipsis...
• Ellipsis is when a word, or more than one
word, are missed out of speech.
“We’re going park now, Mum”
• Write the definition and do your own example

7. Annotate in pairs, looking at:
1. Look at the extract, line by line.
2. Label it with the terminology that we have been
learning over the last few lessons.
3. Think about the reason for it. E.g. Using fillers to
buy time/to gauge the reaction of the listeners.
4. What differences can you see between the way
‘Phil’ and Greg Rutherford speak?
You have 15 minutes

8. Greg Rutherford Interview

9. Questions about the interview
• What was the power relationship in that situation?
• Who controlled the conversation?
• Who used the most fillers, and why?
• How did the paralinguistic features suggest who
was in control of the situation?
• Who interrupted the most, and why?
• There are instances of overlapping. Why do you
think this is?
• What words did Greg Rutherford use most
frequently? What does this show about his state of
mind?

10. Questions about the interview
• What was the power relationship in that situation?
• Who controlled the conversation?
• Who used the most fillers, and why?
• How did the paralinguistic features suggest who
was in control of the situation?
• Who interrupted the most, and why?
• There are instances of overlapping. Why do you
think this is?
• What words did Greg Rutherford use most
frequently? What does this show about his state of
mind?