How Conversation Works (Language Library) - Softcover

Wardhaugh, Ronald

  • 3.90 out of 5 stars
    21 ratings by Goodreads
 
9780631139393: How Conversation Works (Language Library)
Softcover
ISBN 10: 0631139397 ISBN 13: 9780631139393
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell, 1985

Synopsis

Conversation is very often spontaneous, natural and informal. But even at its most casual it is governed by rules and principles of language and behaviour. This book lays bare the structure of conversation, describing what happens when people talk to each other and explaining why they say what they say in a wide variety of circumstances.

Ronald Wardhaugh explores many aspects of conversation, asking how conversations start, how we decide who will speak next, how we change the subject, and how we know when a conversation has finished.

How Conversation Works is the most accessible guide to discourse analysis and pragmatics yet written and will be read with profit and enjoyment by students and general readers alike.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Ronald Wardhaugh is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto.

From the Back Cover

Conversation is very often spontaneous, natural and informal. But even at its most casual it is governed by rules and principles of language and behaviour. This book lays bare the structure of conversation, describing what happens when people talk to each other and explaining why they say what they say in a wide variety of circumstances.

Ronald Wardhaugh explores many aspects of conversation, asking how conversations start, how we decide who will speak next, how we change the subject, and how we know when a conversation has finished.

How Conversation Works is the most accessible guide to discourse analysis and pragmatics yet written and will be read with profit and enjoyment by students and general readers alike.

From the Inside Flap

Conversation is very often spontaneous, natural and informal. But even at its most casual it is governed by rules and principles of language and behaviour. This book lays bare the structure of conversation, describing what happens when people talk to each other and explaining why they say what they say in a wide variety of circumstances.

Ronald Wardhaugh explores many aspects of conversation, asking how conversations start, how we decide who will speak next, how we change the subject, and how we know when a conversation has finished.

How Conversation Works is the most accessible guide to discourse analysis and pragmatics yet written and will be read with profit and enjoyment by students and general readers alike.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
Publication date
1985
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0631139397
ISBN 13 
9780631139393
Binding
Paperback
Edition number
1
Number of pages
239
Rating
  • 3.90 out of 5 stars
    21 ratings by Goodreads

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9780631139218: How conversation works (The Language library)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  0631139214 ISBN 13:  9780631139218
Publisher: B. Blackwell in association with..., 1985
Hardcover