discourse analysis assignment

EDL 3206-Discourse Analysis

ABSTRACT

Turn-taking is one of the basic mechanisms in conversation, and the convention of turn-

taking varies between cultures and languages; therefore, learners of a foreign language

may find it difficult to take their turns naturally and properly in other tongues. This study

aims to examine the turn taking features of backchannel, utterance-completions and

overlaps in natural spoken discourse. An extract of conversation is chosen as material

because it allows constant reference to the context as well as providing more common

type of interactions that allows the pattern of turn-taking features to emerge naturally.

The findings will focus on the number of occurrences among the turn taking features

mentioned above and also include the analysis of each occurrence in their specific

categories.

CONTENTS

__________________________________________________________________The Study of Turn Taking in an Informal Interview

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Page No :

ABSTRACT 1

CONTENTS 2

PART 1. INTRODUCTION 3

1.1 What is discourse? 4

1.2 What is discourse analysis? 4

1.3 Basic Concepts of Turn-Taking System 5

1.4 Feature of Turn-Taking 5

PART 2. RESEARCH 6

2.1 Research Methodology 7

2.2 Data and Findings 8

2.3 Analysis of Statement-Form Utterances 9

2.3.1 Back-Channel 10

2.3.2 Utterance Completion 15

2.3.3 Overlap 19

PART 3. DISCUSSION 22

PART 4. CONCLUSION 23

APPENDIX

The Transcribed Data 24-36

REFERENCES 37

PART 1. INTRODUCTION


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This study aims to discuss turn-taking in the setting of informal conversation. Turn-

taking is often difficult for learners of a foreign language, due to its socio-cultural

component and various turn-eliciting cues. This research exclusively looks at how

participants organize themselves to take turn in a spontaneous interview and the use of

specific devices of turn-taking in the listener’s utterance and the speaker’s utterance and

the number of turn-taking occurrences in a discourse-based framework. The material used

in this research is an extract of conversation between two people who had just met.

Conversations allow natural interaction between participants based on the assumption of

the looser the limitations on what and when participants may speak, the more naturally

the turn taking emerges. While socio-cultural and gender factors should not be ignored,

this paper mainly deals with the procedures of turn-taking, especially focusing on the

aspects of backchannels, utterance completions and overlaps in the context of natural

interaction.

1.1 What is discourse?


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Discourse refers to the totality of all these elements interacting (Cook, 1989). A sentence

cannot be fully analyzed without referring to the physical, social, and psychological

world in which it takes place. Grammatical form and its function do not always

correspond, but work in harmony in discourse meaning (McCarthy, 1991:106); therefore,

discourse analysis involves a close look at language association beyond the sentence-

level. Speech and written text are given fuller meaning and pragmatic coherence is

established when they are viewed as discourse. Additionally, in conversation, which is an

excellent example of the interactive and interpersonal nature of communication in spoken

discourse (Brown 1994), the time dimension should be taken into account for analysis,

since participants jointly contribute to the context of interaction.

1.2 What is discourse analysis?

Discourse analysis is the assessment of language use by members of a speech

community. It involves looking at both language form and language functions and

includes the study of both spoken interaction and written texts. It identifies linguistic

features that characterize different genres as well as social and cultural factors that assist

in our interpretation and understanding of different texts and types of discourse. A

discourse analysis of written texts might include a study of topic development and

cohesion across the sentences, while an analysis of spoken language might focus on these

aspects plus turn-taking practices, opening and closing sequences of social encounters, or

narrative structure.

1.3 Basic Concepts of Turn-Taking System


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Turn-taking is one of the basic elements in conversation where speakers and listeners

change their roles in order to begin their speech. The turn-taking devices may actually

vary between cultures and between languages (Cook, 1989). In ordinary conversation, it

is very rare to see any allocation of turns in advance. The participants naturally take

turns. There is a set of rules that govern the turn-taking system, which is independent of

various social contexts (Sacks, Schegloff & Jefferson, 1974:704): (a) when the current

speaker selects the next speaker, the next speaker has the right and, at the same time, is

obliged to take the next turn; (b) if the current speaker does not select the next speaker,

any one of the participants has the right to become the next speaker. This could be

regarded as self-selection; and (c) the current speaker may resume his/her turn if neither

the current speaker selects the next speaker nor any of the participants become the next

speaker.

1.4 Features of Turn-Taking

One discourse feature that is easy to study is listener response behavior, also known as

backchannels. Backchannels are the brief verbal responses that a listener uses while

another individual is talking, such as mm-hmm, ok, yeah, and oh wow. Listener response

can also be non-verbal, for instance head nods and gestures. Culture-specific rules and

procedures of turn-taking such as entering and leaving conversation, taking a turn without

appearing rude, and changing the topic can be very difficult for foreign learners (Cook

1989: 57). In Malay culture for instance, the brief verbal responses are usually consist of

vocalizations such as ermm, ya, oh, a ah and ek. Other discourse features that are

included in this study are the utterance completions and overlaps. Utterance completions

normally occurred when the listener predict the speaker’s utterances and complete them

for them. Overlaps occur when the listener is able to predict the speakers’ utterances or

meaning and overlap with them as they complete. White it is easy to identify the features

of backchannels in spoken data; it is quite difficult to distinguish utterance completions

and overlaps between one another.

PART 2. RESEARCH


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The research looks at the occurrences of the turn-taking features mentioned earlier;

backchannels, utterance completions and overlaps in natural conversation. The

participants are Zati Helma bt. Zainal, a female Malay student from IIUM, Gombak and

Jasbin Kaur, a female Punjabi student from UTM, Skudai who is doing her practicum at

Sekolah Menengah Teknik Setapak. Jasbin Kaur was introduced to us during our action

research at the school by a former acquaintance of ours. She agreed to undergo the

interview and recording of the interview was done at the school. Without any dialogues

provided, we managed to record a 20-minute of conversation. Both participants proceed

with the intentions of getting to know each other better. The supposition is, not every

people in Malaysia can speak English fluently without any grammatical mistakes. Thus,

culture and gender issues should also be taken into account when analyzing the data. The

conversation was recorded using a cell phone, Sony Ericsson model K750i and in .amr

file format which is the default format of the cell phone’s audio recorder. The recording

was done by Lionel Libau and Roselizam Ismail. The audio file was then converted

into .wav sound file for an easy transcription of the data.

2.1 Research Methodology


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1. Decide on research question

The research is specifically done to study the turn taking occurrence, namely the

backchannels, utterance completions and overlaps in a natural type of spoken discourse.

2. Interview

The interview is unplanned and both participants should proceed on question and answer

basis and the interview was in fact more similar to a natural conversation that occurs

between two newly met acquaintances. It was then recorded to provide data for the

analysis of the turn-taking occurrences in the interaction.

3. Transcribe data

The recorded data is transcribed in the nature which they are recorded without any

attempt on ‘cleaning it up’ or editing it so as to find the turn-taking features based on the

context of natural interaction between foreign or second language speakers of English

language.

4. Analyze data

The finding is analyzed based on the occurrence of backchannel, utterance completions

and turn-taking features found in the interview and a table is produced to show the

number of occurrence. The data is also analyzed based on the function of the speech and

the context it happened.

5. Write Up

The write up of the research is done after analyzing the data and a table is produced to

show the findings.


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2.2 Data and Findings

Data 1 is produced based on the number of the times turn-taking occurs in the interview.

Turn-taking Features Number of Occurrences

a. Backchannels 11

b. Utterance completions 5

c. Overlaps 4

Total no. of occurrences : 21

Data 1

In Data 1, the turn-taking patterns that emerged from the data are categorized and

recorded. From the table above, it is clear that there are the tendencies of using

backchannels as responses in the interview. The number of utterance completions and

overlaps that occurred in the interaction is less than the number of backchannels found in

the data. Based on this data, it is assumed that both participants were eager to express

themselves, seemed comfortable with each other and have an understanding even though

they have just met. The analyses below will further explain these turn-taking features and

their functions in the context of the conversation, taking into account the culture and

gender of the participants.

2.3 Analysis of Turn-taking Functions in the Utterances


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The number of occurrences in the findings shows that there is the tendency of using

backchannel in a natural interaction. In Malaysian context, the listener usually use

backchannel responses such as, oh, mmm, ya, ok and sometimes a ah. In this 20-minute

conversation, backchannel, utterance completion and overlap occurred eleven times

indicating that other than eager to express themselves, both participants are not quite

comfortable using English as English is their second language and both of them were

perhaps not very fluent in the language. There were brief pause (1or 2 seconds) when the

participants seemed searching for appropriate words to use or trying to construct

sentences to clarify their speech. During these occasions, the turn taking features of

utterance completion and overlaps had occurred many times. Below are the analysis of

backchannels, utterance completions and overlaps, focusing on the functions in the

context they were being used.

2.3.1 Back-Channels


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Occurrence 1:

A: Jalan Kuala Kangsar…? Because I used to go to MPKI, Maktab Perguruan Kinta

Ipoh.

B: ] Oh.

A: Jalan Dairy, Ipoh. I used to study there.

Analysis:

A used a vocalization ‘oh’ to indicate that she knew the place. A was trying to

show that she was listening to what B was saying. It was A’s approach of making the

conversation between them more interesting. In the Malaysian context, the sound ‘Oh’ is

a typical way to show that you are engaged in the conversation.

Occurrence 2:

A : Ok….arrr..How long have you been teaching?

B : I’m just in my practicum now…

A: ] Aha.

B: For the first time.

Analysis:

This part of conversation is quite similar to the first example of backchannel

shown earlier. The sound ‘Aha’ used by A also indicated that she was listening and

understood what B was saying. It also indicated that A is somehow surprised yet, at the

same time agreed with what B was saying.

Occurrence 3:__________________________________________________________________The Study of Turn Taking in an Informal Interview

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A : Engineering drawing…So, arr.. What course did you.. Erm.. Where did you study

previously?

B : I’m from UTM...

A: ] Aha.

B: UTM Skudai.

Analysis:

In this sample, the sound ‘Aha’ used also indicated that A is listening and paying

attention to the answer provided by B. It also indicated an element of shared knowledge.

A was most probably knew where UTM is located even if B did not provide the answer.

Occurrence 4:

B : Actually.. I didn’t had that ambition earlier but

A: ] Aha.

B: then, after I did my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, I worked as a technician

for one year.

Analysis:

This extract is quite similar to the first example of backchannel shown earlier. The

sound ‘Aha’ indicated that A was paying attention and understand what B was saying. It

also indicated that A gets the message that B was trying to convey.

Occurrence 5:

A : So, this is a more relaxing __________________________________________________________________The Study of Turn Taking in an Informal Interview

11


B : ] Ya

A: situation la, ok

Analysis:

In this sample, A agreed with what B was saying. The sound ‘Ya’ made by B is

similar to the sound made by Malaysian speakers to show agreement in a subject.

Occurrence 6:

A : And then, do you get many friends?

B: ] Ya.

A: Here?

B: Have a lot.

Analysis:

This extract is also an example of backchannel by using short words as a

response. In this situation, B gave simple short answers to the questions posed by the A

indicating that B did not really interested in the subject and was merely answering the

question.

Occurrence 7:


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B : Normally like after we do our course, we always… we suppose to be posting… in

a secondary school of

A: ] Mm.

B: of course I don’t picture myself as primary school teacher, right?

Analysis:

In this sample, the vocalization used, “Mm” is the typical Malaysian way of

showing that we understands what the other person is saying. In this situation, A

indicated that she understand B’s condition. It is another way to make the conversation

goes smoothly and more interesting.

Occurrence 8:

B : Others are doing Electrical and

A: ] Mm.

B: they are majoring in Electrical and other two are Civil Engineering. Since they

don’t have mechanical… that’s why I … you know… Lost here

Analysis:

In this extract, A used ‘Mm” as an indication that she was attending to the

message.

Occurrence 9:


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B : I have two classes, one of my class is ok. They listen to you, one thing.. you must

be strict with them lah

A: ] Mm.

B: But then, when you are teaching, trying to be strict lah.. Other than that, you have

to be ‘sporting’ lah… because most teachers here are yelling the whole day.

Analysis:

This sample is similar with the previous sample (Occurrence 9) where

vocalizations such as “mm” was used to indicate that A is attending to what B was saying

and urged B to go on talking.

Occurrence 10:

A : Arr.. Normally, when they say about secondary school, like me… now, I getting

a picture of….. students…. like indiscipline students like if

B: ] Not…

A: you scolded them, they will try to slash your car tire

Analysis:

In this extract, the use of “Not” is to indicate that B disagreed with A during the

conversation. It also showed that B was alert to what the other person was saying. This

had made the situation more interesting

Occurrence 11:

A : You just simply cannot suppress your..__________________________________________________________________The Study of Turn Taking in an Informal Interview

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B: ] No,no,no…

Analysis:

This sample shows that the use of backchannel here is to indicate a strong

disagreement of the comment. B obviously understood what A was trying to say even

though A did not have the chance to finish her sentence.

2.3.2 Utterance Completions


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Occurrence 1:

A : Why? You don’t have any boyfriend?

B : Normally, in our community we believe in arranged marriage. I mean we don’t

take a risk… you know… and then will leave or something and then you can’t go

back to your parents. That’s the concept… you know. So when you have a

arranged marriage, you are more like secured lah.. The most important thing ]

A : ] So

you are waiting for your parents to arrange your…..

B : ] Ya…I got a lot.

A : So, what if you don’t like the person?

Analysis:

In this first sample, A asked a question to B and the answer given by B is quite

lengthy. Hence, A did not let B finish her next sentence perhaps because she was able to

predict the end part of the sentence which was most probably ‘is love’ or may be she just

felt eager to get to the next question. But here, B also managed to predict the question but

the response that she gave was out of the context of the question.

Occurrence 2:

A : Textile? Erm… and are you close with your parents?


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B : Ya… Sure, very close ]

A : ] Ya, everything you say “mommy………….”

Analysis:

In this sample, A asked a question that requires a short answer and B replied to it

accordingly. Yet, towards the end of her response, her tone indicated continuity for her

response or in other words, she made no indication of ending her sentence and seemed

like searching for the appropriate words to continue her sentence. So, A completed her

sentence and predicted that maybe she is very close with her mother.

Occurrence 3:

B : If I go I surely must buy something.. because like, you can’t be like… think, think

and admiring… just buy lah.

A : You cannot simply suppress your..]

B : ] No.. No… No… Can not simply. I’ll just

have to point and my auntie will buy

whatever.

Analysis:

In this third sample, B is answering A’s question and gave a comment. While A

pause briefly searching for words to use in the comment, B cut in as if she knew what A

was trying to say. Her response using “No...no..no..” indicated a strong disagreement by

what A was trying to say even though A never finish her comment. This is an example of

utterance completion where B was able to predict the other person’s sentence and

complete it for her.

Occurrence 4:

A : Ok.. How about movie? Do you often go to]


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B : ] Not so often, when new movies, like

nights, but most of the time not really

lah… Usually buy DVDs and watch it

and watch at home.

A : Oohh… So what movies that you watched recently? I mean at the ]

B : ] The last was a

Hindi Movie

Ha..ha..ha

Analysis:

This extract is also an example of utterance completion where B was able to

predict what A is trying to ask. Even though she did not try to complete the question that

A ask her, B was able to give precise answer of A’s question. If we look at the first

question that A asked, we would know that the following question would most probably

had something to do with the movie.

Occurrence 5:


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B : Not that happening. Ha..ha…ha… (Laughing) As KL… so and then the places, I

mean… town is near, you know..one place is very near because it is a small town,

quite near lah… Food there is cheap ]

A : ] Ya, the food, the rent ]

B : ] Is cheaper lah…

Cost of living is

much more cheaper

than here

Analysis:

In this sample, while B was talking, A cut in and tried to complete the sentence

for her but B regained back her turns and completed the examples that A was trying to

provide. This is the situation where gender is the issue. Since both participants are

female, it is a well known fact that females like to chitchat with other female of the same

interest. That is why both participants try to become the dominant speaker here.

2.3.3 Overlaps


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Occurrence 1:

B : The students here? Ha..ha..ha.. (Laughing) Well.. ]

A : ] Arr.. Normally, when they say

about secondary school, like I… me… now, I getting a picture of students like

undisciplined students like … ] you know.. if you scolded them, they will try to

B : ] not really lah..

slash your car tire…] arr.. whatever… but how about the students here?

B : ] Arr…

Analysis:

The interruption occurs when A needed B to answer her question according to the

context she wanted. It was to restrict the answer and to avoid B from giving the different

kind of answer. At that moment too, she was giving help for B to further explain her

answer.

Occurrence 2:

A : So, you treat them like friend arr ]

B : ] more or less like a friend lah, you don’t really

like to scold them. But sometimes yes.. Have to… you have to… if you are so

lenient to them, they just…. Arr ]. you know..

A : ] Ya.. They won’t listen to you.

Analysis:

In this part, B overlapped with A by giving A the additional explanations and

descriptions about what she thinks of her students.

Occurrence 3:


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B : Oohh.. if already married, I then find ] another person…

A : ] Then you go back to your parents….

A/B : Ha..ha.. ha… (Laughing)

Analysis:

In this conversation, A overlaps by giving joke about the possible consequences

of what might happen to B. This was because in Malaysian culture, interruption such as

joking during an informal conversation between friends is acceptable. It was used to

show that the listener was listening to what the speaker was saying and also to make the

conversation more meaningful for both of them. We can assume that A tried to draw and

attract the speaker’s attention so that the conversation between them would become more

interesting.

Occurrence 4:

A : Who is your favorite among them?

B : Favorite huh…? Erm…. Difficult to say lah.. because all of us are like so close

and then arr… ] sometimes

A : ] No rival….rival….?

B : No lah… Sometimes we fight with each other and we become close back. So, it it

is the thing lah…. Hi..hi…hi…. (Laughing)

Analysis:

In this part of conversation, A overlaps with B explanation by giving some

additional question in order to keep the conversation about that particular topic continues.

Similar to the previous analysis in Occurrence 3, A tried to make the conversation more

interesting.

PART 3. DISCUSSION


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In a natural conversation where the participants had known each other well, it is easy to

indicate the roles of the speakers and organize the turns between the speakers. There is no

awkwardness of introduction or ice-breaking, thus turn-taking can occur more smoothly

and in a meaningful way, for instance; the conversation that occurs naturally between

friends. In this context, although the participants have just met and barely knew each

other, the fact that both of them are females has made it easier for them to relate to each

other thus conversing effectively. Normally, in a natural conversation where both

speakers are the native speaker of English language, turns can occur more smoothly and

are more organized. However, in this conversation, there are times when B tried to be the

dominant speaker as to portray her roles in the conversation as the one who provide

answers to the question. And there are also times when the A tried to regain back her

roles by neglecting the turns and speaking at her own accord. The backchannels aspects

that were used in this data were mostly used to show that the listener was attentive to

what the speaker was saying. The utterance completions aspects that can be found in this

data shows that without restrictions on what and when to talk, speakers would just grab

too many turns and eager to complete the utterances of other person in order to reclaim

back their turns. The aspects of overlaps found in this data which are not many, illustrates

the restrictions of B’s responses so that the purpose of the conversation would still be on

its right track. The overlaps used also shows that the speaker was trying to be the

dominant speaker.

PART 4. CONCLUSION


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An extract of natural conversation can be used as teaching aid in a language classroom.

Teachers can use discourse analysis as a tool for studying interactions among students

and as a teaching resource to use in the classroom. Students can benefit from using

discourse analysis to explore what language is and how it is used to achieve

communicative goals in different contexts. However, natural piece of data such as the

conversation used in this study needs to be edited so that it is easier for students to see the

smooth flow of the conversation in order to utilize it. In conclusion, discourse analysis

can help to generate a second language learning environment that precisely reflects how

language is used thus helping students to be proficient in the second language.

APPENDIX


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The Transcribed Data

Moves Utterances

1 A: What is your name?

2 B: Ok, my name is Jasbin Kaur.

3 A: Come again?

4 B: With the end ‘Kaur’.

5 A: Ahaaa, where are you from?

6 B: I’m from Ipoh actually.

7 A: From Ipoh, which part of Ipoh?

8 B: Which part of Ipoh…..? Jalan Kuala Kangsar.

9A: Ahaaa, Jalan Kuala Kangsar…? I used to go to MPKI, Maktab Perguruan

Kinta Ipoh, Jalan Dairy Ipoh.

10 B: Ohhhh.

11 A: I used to study there.

12 B: Ok

13 A: Ok….arrr..How long have you been teaching?

14 B: I’m just in my practicum now, for the first time.

15 A: Ooooh..So, arr…How long is that practicum?

16 B: That practicum is for three months.

17 A: Three months ? So, arr..this is the third month?

18 B: No..Next month, I’ll be completing my practicum.

19 A: Do you enjoy teaching?

20 B: Ya.

21 A: So, what is your ambition actually?

22 B: Be a teacher.

23 A: Oooh…You want to be a teacher?

24 B: Yes.

25 A: What subject do you teach here?

26 B: I’m teaching Engineering Drawing.

27 A: Engineering drawing…So, arr.. What course did you.. Erm.. Where did you


24


study previously?

28 B: I’m from UTM, UTM Skudai.

29 A: What course?

30

B: But I’m doing arr.. Mechanical Engineering.. arr.. In education but in this

school, they don’t have mechanical erm.. I mean Mechanical Engineering

and Electrical and Civil. So, I’m supposed to teach my option is like

Engineering Drawing.

31 A: Does it interesting subject?

32 B: Ya., it is.

33 A: Are you married?

34 B: No..

35 A: Ok, and how old are you?

36 B: I’m twenty three

37 A: Twenty three..? Still young.. very young.

38 B: Erm..erm..

39 A: Ok. So, arr.. emm, where are you staying? Here in KL.

40 B: Here … Segambut.

41 A: In Segambut. Ok, how do you travel to your school?

42 B: Taxi.

43 A: By taxi… , so, you are living with your friend?

44 B: No… My auntie.

45 A: Ooh.. With your auntie. To cut down your expense of …..

46 B: Ya..

47 A: Food.. rent… eherm…

48 B: Erm.. erm.. Expense is only for the taxi fair.

49

A: Ooh… Ok… And then erm.. Did you want to be a teacher? But do picture

yourself as an Engineering Drawing teacher or do you picture yourself as

just arr… an ordinary primary school teacher? When you said your ambition

is to be a teacher.

50B: Normally like after we do our course, we always… we suppose to be

posting… in a secondary school.


25


51 A: Ehm..

52 B: So, they… of course I don’t picture myself as primary school teacher, right?

53A: Erm…No.. but… but… when you are younger, when you are younger and

you thinking I want to be a teacher?

54 B: Actually.. I didn’t had that ambition earlier..

55 A: Aha...

56

B: But then, after I did my Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, I worked as a

technician for one year. After seeing the environment of being a technician

has shift for twelve hours… you know.., twelve hours… you know… to..

you know.. going at night and then come in the morning… that… that… and

then…you know… Engineering is still not… not something is that… you

know… a lot of pressure… you know…

57 A: Aha…

58

B: I’m sick of client and so on… So I thought of still majoring in engineering

but then in that field…related to it…not so tensed up like … you know…

being an engineer.

59 A: Arr…

60 B: So, that’s how I switched to this.

61 A: Oohh…

62 B: Ya..

63 A: So, this is more relaxing?

64 B: Ya… Ya..

65A: And then, arrr.. How is your… You are doing your practicum right? How is

your relationship with the teachers here? Do they cooperate with you?

66 B: Ya.. Ya.. They are quite helpful lah…

67A: Because you have been here.. let say that.. the teachers in this school are

very helpful.

68 B: Ya… Very helpful.

69 A: And then, do you get many friends here?

70 B: Ya, have a lot.

71 A: How many of you having practical here?


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72 B: From UTM, we have five of us..

73 A: Others from MPSM? Then,

74

B: Others are doing Electrical and they are majoring in Electrical and other two

are Civil Engineering. Since they don’t have mechanical… that’s why I …

you know… Lost here

75A: Okay. Emm..Arrr.. Can you share with us your first day experience in this

school? First day when you are here, where did you go?

76 B: Erm.. oohh Where did I go? Ok.. First day.. Let me remember…

77 C: Recall back…

78

B: Ha…ha…ha… (Laughing) First day, earlier I came and then I just came to

look around the school environment and all, and then.. The first day we

had... The assembly... because it was Monday. So, we were introduced to

the students.

79 A: Ohh...Do they.. .

80 B: Everyone was that wondering, “What race is this teacher?”

81 A: Aha...

82

B: You know...Because they have non, very few non-Muslims in this school.

So the fact was some was like so confused. Because there are non non-

Muslim… so maybe because of that they little bit confused. So then, after

that… slowly... we were… I mean... introduced… you know… so then…

They got to know. Other than that, then erm… I was shown my room and

all. What else you want to know in my first day, huh?

83 A: That’s all I guess.

84A: Ha…ha…ha…(Laughing) Are you… like a pure Indian girl? Because you

have fairer skin. Are you mix or ….?

85 B: No… I’m a Punjabi.

86 A: Ohh... Punjabi.

87 B: Then I have a “ Kaur” behind.

88 A: Arr… Ok. And what do you think of the students here?

89 B: The students here? Ha..ha..ha.. (Laughing) Well…

90 A: Arr.. Normally, when they say about secondary school, like I… me…


27


now, I getting a picture of students like undisciplined students like

91 B: Not…

92 A: You know... if you scolded them, they will try to slash your car tire

93 B: Aha...

94 A: Or...Whatever… but how about the students here?

95B: I have two classes; one of my class is ok. They listen to you, one thing.. you

must be strict with them lah..

96 A: Ehemm

97

B: But then, when you are teaching, trying to be strict lah.. Other than that, you

have to be ‘sporting’ lah… because most teachers here are yelling the whole

day...

98 A: Ahaa...

99

B: And then they get so bored, listening to the yell and all teachers’ screaming..

so you like… I meant you must change the tactics a bit. Being ‘sporting’ to

them since you’ll gonna be here for three months.

100 A: Oohh…Ok

101B: And then, I have another class, they are ok lah. They are quite noisy lah.

They don’t really, you know... They don’t really..enjoy the subject much…

102 A: Oh ok.

103

B: But then when, when you have like arr… different techniques in teaching,

then they’ll listen to...because before this, the teachers, maybe, they couldn’t

understand what they are teaching. So after… giving them different

techniques like… you know, doing in a groupwork and all. So After that,

You know...they tend...you know…to take interest in learning the subject.

104 A : So, you treat them like friend… arr…more or less

105 B: Aha...

106 A: Like a friend, you don’t really like to scold them.

107B: But sometimes yes... Have to… you have to… if you are so lenient to them,

they just…. Arr... you know

108 A: Ya...They won’t listen to you.

109 B: They will never listen to you.


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110 A: Arr... Ok. What else do I want to ask? Do you have any boyfriend?

111 B: No...

112 A: Why? You don’t have any boyfriend?

113 B: Normally, normally in our community we believe in arranged marriage’s.

114 A: Aha...

115B: I mean we don’t take a risk… you know… and then will leave or something

and then you can’t go back to your parents. That’s the concept… you know.

116 A: Aaaa...

117B: So when you have a arranged marriage, you have more like secured lah..

The most important thing security.

118 A: So you are waiting for your parents to arrange your…..

119 B: Ya… I got a lot.

120 A: So, what if you don’t like the person?

121B: What if I don’t like the person? Then, I’ll find another person. Ha…ha…

ha… (Laughing) So simple.. simple as that.

122 A: Oohh…if you already married?

123 B: Oohh... if already married, I then find…

124 A: Then you go back to your parents….

125 A/B: Ha..ha.. ha… (Laughing)

126B: That’s a question huh…? Let me think, no.. I can’t say now lah.. because so

far, I never experienced it.

127 A: Ehmm

128B: But then, hopefully, whatever, I mean... whoever my parents find should be

the best one lah.

129 A: Of course la they will find the best one.

130 B: Because we teenagers, you know sometimes teenagers are not too curious

131 A/B : Ha.. ha.. ha.. (Laughing)

132 A: You are not teenager anymore.

133 B: I’m trying to answer that question… ha… ha…ha… (Laughing)

134 A: No more… no more…

135 B: Ok. We tend to make a wrong choice. Sometimes we look at someone we


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say arr… Ok. This guy looks OK…. You know… then he’s good looking…

you know… he’s stable in… whatever… so we tend to fall very fast. We

don’t think for future… you know… so, this is what that… you know…

sometimes you make mistake lah…. by choosing someone. I mean, the best

is like let your parents decide for you... and then it is more fun.. I mean

falling in love after getting married. It’s my concept. You know.. Once you

like so in love… for...such a long time after takes three to four years, your

boyfriend girlfriend you always, got some fight. I think most of my

friends… you know

136 A: Yaa...

137B: Always quarrel with their boyfriends. And they can’t study; they can’t

concentrate in their study and so on. This disturbed….I mean… in the…

138 A: Distraction.

139

B: I mean… in the distraction lah some kind of distraction they… they grades

tend to come down. And then, know… so I think it’s better to don’t have all

that. Better to , for our parents to find it then...then after you get married,

you are bored with the person. Because you have known him four to five

years and then you getting married... then you see his face again, such a

boring thing right?

140 A: Oohh…

141B: And then, better arrange, and then after getting married you get to know the

person. It is more fun lah. I feel that way lah...

142A: So when do you plan to get married or when do you think that your parents

will arrange your marriage for you?

143 B: Oohh…. Actually there are a lot of proposals made.

144 A: Oohh…. So many admirers?

145B: A lot, and then..arrrr..But this is not a right time because I’ve to go to

continue my study for another one and a half year.

146 A: Ohh...

147B: Maybe after that I plan… you know... work for at least two years, 27 , 28

lah.. Maybe....


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148A: Ohh... ok, arrr...is still young age to get married lah. Ok then, how many

family members do you have?

149B: Family members? I have two elder sisters, two younger brothers. I’m the

middle of five of us.

150 A: Erm.. What erm... do your parents do for a living?

151 B: My erm… ehem... My daddy is a businessman

152 A: Ehem...

153 B: And mommy is a housewife.

154 A: Erm… Businessman?

155 B: Erm… Textile.

156 A: Textile? Ohh… and are you close with your parents?

157 B: Ya… Sure, very close..

158 A: Ya, everything you say “mommy………….”

159 B: Ya… “Anak Mami”

160 A/B: Ha… ha… ha… (Laughing)

161A: Everything tell them...consult them.. How about your siblings? Are they still

studying?

162 B: Ya… My sisters, they are still studying

163 A: Are you close to them?

164 B: Well, my sisters quite close with my two younger brothers.

165 A: Who is your favorite among them?

166B: Favorite huh…? Erm…. Difficult to say lah.. because all of us are like so

close

167 A: Ehemm...

168 B: And then arr… sometimes

169 A: No rival….rival….?

170B: No lah… Sometimes we fight with each other and we become close back.

So, it it is the thing lah…. Hi..hi…hi…. (Laughing)

171 A: Erm… What arr... Do you normally do in weekend?

172 B: During weekend? During weekend...On Saturday I get up late because

Monday to Friday…. Ha..ha...ha… (Laughing) getting up early and then


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erm… weekends normally, erm… we have like plan lah… going

somewhere, if I don’t go back to my hometown, then, I’m around in KL. We

have a lot of functions to attend… you know… prayers… Sunday I go to the

temple. Go shopping… I like that lah…

173 A: Do you like shopping?

174 B: Ya… erm…

175 A: When do you normally go for shopping?

176 B: Normally in KL so far, KLCC, SOGO…

177A: Oohh… Do you prefer large shopping complex or places like Uptown,

‘pasar malam’?

178 B: I think large lah... because you got more choices.

179 A: Ehm...

180B: The pasar malam also not bad lah...because you can get things cheaper….

Ha..ha...ha… (Laughing)

181 A: Ya lah… Like Uptown or we can get a wallet for ten ringgit

182 B: Ya… it cheaper than big shopping centres

183 A: How often do you normally go for shopping?

184 B: If I got nothing to do every weekend lah…

185 A: Window shopping huh?

186B: If I go I surely must buy something...because like, you can’t be like… think,

think and admiring… just buy lah.

187 A: You cannot simply suppress your…

188B: No...No… No… Can not simply. I’ll just have to point and my auntie will

buy whatever.

189 A/B: Ha..ha...ha… (Laughing)

190 A: Normally you go with your auntie?

191 B: Ya...with my auntie

192A: So if you… when you simply point, I don’t have money but I want that

thing… It is like that?

193 B: No… No… I wasn’t tell her. I just… like… if I like admire something, I’ll

be like “Wah!! This is nice thing!” “Take it take it…” So what is the big


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deal?

194 A: Nice auntie you have… Every time you point like that?

195 B : Ya… Ha..ha…ha… (Laughing)

196 A: Ok... How about movie? Do often go to…..?

197

B: Not so often, when a new movie released, which I think it is...like nice,.. I

normally...but most of the time not really lah… Usually buy DVDs and

watch it and watch at home.

198 A: Oohh… So what movies that you watched recently? I mean at the ….

199 B: Ok...

200 B: The last I’m not sure…. was a Hindi movie….. Ha..ha...ha… (Laughing)

201 A: So you really like Hindi movies?

201 B: Ya…

203 A: How about Hollywood movies like “Pirates of the Caribbean” ?

204 B: Not really

205 A: Like “Tokyo Drift”?

206 B: That one I watched in DVD only lah…… Ha..ha…ha… (Laughing)

207A: Oohh… That only… in DVD..Ok, normally when you go to movie, who did

you bring with you? Is it your auntie?

208 B: Ya… My auntie and my family.

209 A: How old is your auntie? She seems like a very ‘sporting’

210 B: Ya.. She’s quite ‘sporting’ She is sixty something… sixty one erm……

211 A: Sixty something?

212 B: Ha…

213 A: And she also have… arr… has a child of her own?

214B: Ya... she has two sons but she don’t have a daughter, so.. I am considered

like her own daughter. So that is the point... I’m lucky.

215 A: Ohh..

216 B: Because before this she don’t have a daughter so...

217 A: Ehmm...

218 B: She can’t buy whatever a girl likes…

219 A: Ya..


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220 B: I mean, for example, earrings,

221 A: Ya…

222B: Accessories. So of course she can’t buy for her son, right? So maybe

because of that I have arr… advantage lah…

223

A: Ok. Erm… Then, what is your hobby? Other than… shopping, do you have,

do you have any other hobby like gardening, reading, collecting stamps and

so on…?

224 A/B: Ha..ha…ha… (Laughing)

225 B: No...

226 A: Any hobby? Not at all?

227B: Normally I play a keyboard lah… When I got nothing to do, I listen to

music to relax my mind.

228 A: Ok...

229

B: Usually play a keyboard, picked up some tunes and then… watch like

DVDS at home. I’m some kind of homely; even my friend can’t call me.

“Ok, lets go here for this weekend” I just like homely like, don’t really

like ..You know.. Don’t ‘lepak’ here ‘lepak’ there. If necessary for shopping

that I feel like to buy something, that time I go lah…

230 A: Ohh..ok..

231A: Before this you are in Ipoh, right? After moving to KL, do you think that

you like this…. KL that… compared to other places that you have been?

232

B: Erm… KL? KL is hectic town but then it has advantages and disadvantages

lah, compared to Ipoh lah… because in arr… in KL arr… what they call

arr...We have more opportunity like for jobs, something and then it can be

more happening lah. When it is happening lah..right?

233 A: But then...Ipoh is also happening, right?

234

B: Not that happening. Ha..ha…ha… (Laughing) As KL… so and then the

places, I mean… town is near, you know...one place is very near because it

is a small town, quite near lah… Food there is cheap

235 A: Ya… The food, the rents are cheap……

236 B: Is cheaper lah… Cost of living is much more cheaper than here


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237 A: But the cost of living here doesn’t affect you much, isn’t it?

238 B: Pardon?

239 A: The cost of living here….

240 B: Ahaa...

241 A: Doesn’t effect you much, isn’t it?

242 B: Ya... ya...not really, doesn’t effect lah….

243 A: Ok. What is the most distracting thing that you discovered in KL?

245 B: The jam…

246 A: The disadvantages?

247

B: Arr… The jam, like sometimes...you know...going to one place it take you

forty-five minutes if we stuck in the jam especially raining days and then

noise, the crowd.. That’s all lah...other than that is ok.

248A: Ok. Arr… Ok, this is last question. What the things that you like about a

person?

249 B: About a person?

250A: To be your friend… or to be your special boyfriend. What when you see a

person, arr… what is the characteristic?

251 B: Oohh… Characteristic of a person? Ok, firstly….

252 A: That you would like…

253

B: Ehem… Ok. Would like a person.. Firstly, you cannot judge a person… you

know… After looking at the person, you cannot judge the book by its cover,

right?

254 A: You have to know them..

255

B: You have to know them, maybe after knowing them for… sometimes if you

talk to, someone even speaking for the… if you have a short conversation

you tend to…. They way they talk to you; you tend to know what kind of a

person they are. The character and then arr..other than that.. erm.. a person

who I like to be as friend.. you know… they maybe someone who are not

hypocrite lah


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256 A: Erm…

257B: Nowadays, you know… the people who treat you nice, in front of them,

behind your back; they are talking behind your back.

258 A: Ya… Ya…

259B: But then they shouldn’t be hypocrite and that is important and should be not

stingy. I don’t like stingy people who are not good sometimes.


261 A: Ok

262

B: Other than that, erm... should be, I mean arr.. I mean the present what they

like they shows. Very straight forward, I don’t like people who beating

around the bus and all.

263

A: Ok... You also mentioned the things that you dislike. Arr… I mean arr…

when you are looking for a friend, do you actually look arr… higher status

as well. I mean... “oh, this person comes from a poor family”

264 B: Oh... No way…. No way… Ha..ha…ha… (Laughing) Because…

265 A: If, did you mind if your friend is like.. ‘Anak Datuk’ or …..?

266 B: Oohh... That wouldn’t be a problem. It’s better, right?


268

B: No, I don’t see that at all, because God have created us as one… you know...

you can’t be think like you only make friends with rich people. Normally,

these rich people are more… I mean… they are more materialistic that look

down upon the poor people. That is not a point. The point is like. You must

have friends who are sincere. You can’t be like… you know. They are rich

and you talk to them…. You know... I don’t have that kind of character.

269 A: So you are looking for sincere friendship?

270 B: Ya... sincere

271 A: Ok... I think that’s about it. Thank you for your time

272 B: Ok. Thanks a lot


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REFERENCES

Brown, H. D. 1994. Principles of Language Learning and Teaching. Third Edition.New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents.

Cook, G. 1989. Discourse. Oxford: OUP.

McCarthy, M. 1991. Discourse Analysis for Language Teachers. Cambridge: CUP.

http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/~emiller/conversation_paper.html

http://www.spectrum.uni-bielefeld.de/Classes/Winter97/PhonMM/UlrichGruen/introduction.htm

http://www.uni-erfurt.de/eestudies/eese/artic98/meierk/7_98.html

http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~ssca1/ttlecture11DA2.htm


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discourse analysis assignment

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