Sociolinguistics of gender in communication

== turn taking and interruptions

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See pages 334 - 336 (as paginated in the pdf) for two conversations.

Page 353 has a potential explanation for the gender interaction differences, but you can create one yourself!

A conversational interaction between a man and a woman.

Woman : How’s your paper coming?
Man : Alright I guess. I haven’t done much in the past two weeks.
Woman : Yeah. Know how that [can]
Man : [Hey] L ya’ got an extra cigarette?
Woman : Oh uh sure ( hands him the pack )
like my [pa]
Man : [How] ’bout a match
Woman : ’Ere ya go uh like my [ pa]
Man : [Thanks [
Woman : Sure. I was gonna tell you [ my]
Man : [Hey] I’d really like ta’ talk but I gotta run – see ya
Woman : Yeah.
(The words within the square brackets were uttered simultaneously.)
(West C. and Zimmerman D. 1977)

Mary : I worked in that hotel for – ah eleven years and I found the patrons were really

really you know good

Jill : Mm.

Mary : You had the odd one or two ruffian’d come in and cause a fight but they were

soon dealt with.

Jill : Right, really just takes one eh? To start trouble.

Mary : Yeah, and and it was mostly the younger ones

Jill : Mm.

Mary : that would start you know.

Jill : Yeah.

Mary : The younger – younger ones couldn’t handle their booze.

Jill : Mm.