Author: McGough M.P.
Title: Inside auction talk: A different turn taking system

Abstract:
This study presents a conversation analysis of auction talk. Turn-taking practices used in auction talk, a form of institutional talk, are a modification of those used in everyday conversation. The sequential patterning of the discourse suggests that one way to conceive context in terms of turn-type pre-allocation. The bidding sequence consists of three chained actions: the bid, bid register, and call for new bids. The bid, a nonverbal turn construction unit, is a first pair part that initiates the sequence. The sale, a terminal move, occurs when no more bids are offered from the floor. The sale is analyzed as a conversational closing that is systematically delayed. It is hoped that this analysis will generate discussion regarding the utility of conceiving turn-type pre-allocation as an application of the very complex notion of context. Due to space constraints, the reader is assumed to be familiar with the terminology and methods of CA. Typically, several examples are provided in support of each claim. Again for reasons, of space, these are kept to a minimum. The complete transcript is availabel upon request.

 In: Proceedings of the International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Modeling and Using Context (CONTEXT-97), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 4-6, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro Ed., pp. 100-106.

Back to CONTEXT-97 Program