Repairing the Broken Surface of Talk

Gail Jefferson was one of the founders of the field of Conversation Analysis (CA), known for her innovative methods and notational conventions for transcribing talk.Jörg Bergmann held positions at various universities in Germany until 2012 when he retired as a full professor of sociology at Bielefeld University. He was one the first scholars to introduce ethnomethodology and conversation analysis to German sociology.Paul Drew has taught and conducted research in conversation analysis for many years, at the University of York and most recently at Loughborough University, where he is Professor of Conversation Analysis. He has had a number of visiting positions in Europe and the U.S. including most recently at the University of Huddersfield (UK) and Shanxi University, China.

• AcknowledgementsGlossary of Transcript SymbolsIntroduction: Jefferson's 'Wild Side' of Conversation Analysis by Jörg Bergmann and Paul Drew1. Notes on Uh 2. Error correction as an interaction resource3. At first I thought - A normalizing device for extraordinary events4. The preference for self-correction in the organization of repair in conversation (with E.Schegloff and H.Sacks)5. On the poetics of ordinary talk6. What's in a 'nyem'?7. The abominable 'Ne?' An exploration of post-response pursuit of response8. On exposed and embedded correction in conversation9. Remarks on 'non-correction' in conversation10. Colligation as a device for minimizing repair or disagreement11. A note on resolving ambiguity12. Remarks on the post-self-correction repeat13. Preliminary notes on abdicated other correctionIndex

This book is a comprehensive exploration of speech errors. First, methodologically, it integrates rigorous analysis, methodological innovation, and insightful observation. Second, it reveals the subtle way in which moments of communication difficulty are remedied to minimize the damage to the interaction. Third, it addresses insightful practical engagement with human experience. It is the first systematic collection of studies of errors in utterance. It deserves reading by both researchers and students.