Conversational
analysis of chatroom talk
by
Terrell Neuage
BA (Journalism), Bachelor of Arts with Honours (Children’s Literature), MA (English Literature)
A
thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
PhD
University
of South Australia
2004
Chairperson of Supervisory Committee:
Professor Claire
Woods
School of Communication, Information and New Media
Date Thursday, February 24, 2005
Conversational analysis of chatroom
talk. i
1.1
Evolution of language from early utterances to chatroom utterances 15
1.2
Internet-based communication systems 22
1.2.1
E-mail, discussion forums 26
1.3.1
Print to computerization. 37
1.3.2
Notion of “discourse” 42
1.4
Purpose of examining online conversation. 42
1.5.1
Problems of researching online 46
1.6 Are Chatrooms Public or Private? 48
1.8 Personal interest in researching
online conversation. 52
2.2 Technology of conversation. 59
2.2.2
The literature of CMC. 66
2.2.2.1 CMC and online talk-texting. 67
2.2.2.2
Analysing electronic textual data 70
2.2.2.3
Online writings on CMC. 71
2.2.2.3.1
Universal language 72
2.2.2.3.3
Role playing chat sites 74
2.3 Analysing online conversation. 78
2.3.1.1
The Reader as interpreter 79
2.3.1.2
The assumed or implied reader 80
2.3.1.3
The background of the reader (“mosaic of multiple texts”) 83
2.3.1.4
The role of the reader 84
2.3.3 Symbolic
activity in chatrooms 87
2.3.4
The language/action approach. 87
2.3.5
Conversational Analysis 90
3.1.1
Qualitative research. 96
3.1.3
Ethnographic approach. 102
3.1.4
Conversation Analysis 111
3.3 Theoretical Framework. 116
3.4 Protocol of a transcription
methodology. 124
CS
1.0.1 Reason for choosing this chatroom.. 142
CS
1.0.2 Background to Hurricane Floyd. 144
CS
1.0.3 Research Questions 145
CS
1.2 Reader-Response theory. 155
CS
1.2.1 Language features 161
CS
1.2.1.1 Skills of shared language 161
CS
1.2.1.2 Linguistic skills 163
CS
1.2.1.2.1 Knowledge and skills of discourse structure and organization. 167
CS
1.2.1.2.2 Metalinguistic knowledge and skills 167
CS
1.2.1.3.3 Phenomenological approach to reading. 171
CS
1.3.1 Two readings of a chatroom.. 175
CS
1.3.1.2 Three different Hurricane Floyd discussion strands 183
CS
2.0.1 Choosing an IM chatroom.. 190
CS
2.1 Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) 191
CS
2.2.1 Is electronic talk comparable to verbal talk? 199
CS
2.2.2 Instant Messenger 202
CS
3.3.1.2 3D virtual chats and ikons 241
CS
4.0.2 Why I chose this chatroom.. 255
CS
4.1.2 Speech Act Theory. 259
CS
4.2.1 Speech situations as speech events 261