Spoken Discourse

Description

This book provides an overview of current theories of and methods for analysing spoken discourse. It includes discussions of both the more traditional approaches of pragmatics, conversation analysis, interactional sociolinguistics, linguistic anthropology and critical discourse analysis, and more recently developed approaches such as multimodal discourse analysis and critical sociolinguistics. Rather than treating these perspectives as mutually exclusive, the book introduces a framework based on principles from mediated discourse analysis in which different approaches to spoken discourse are seen as complementing and informing one another. In this framework, spoken discourse is seen as mediated through a complex collection of technological, semiotic and cultural tools which enable and constrain people's ability to engage in different kinds of social actions, enact different kinds of social identities and form different kinds of social relationships. A major focus of the volume is on the way technological tools like telephones, broadcast media, digital technologies are changing the way people communicate with spoken language. The book is suitable for use as a textbook in advanced courses in discourse analysis and language in social interaction, and will also be of interest to scholars in a variety of fields including linguistics, sociology, media studies and anthropology.

Rodney H. Jones is Professor of Sociolinguistics and New Media at the University of Reading, UK.

Spoken Discourse has many strengths. Its strongest voice speaks to the comprehensive reviews of the large literature that the author collectively assembles into his broad and deep approach ... The book offers students and researchers a reference review of seminal and significant texts and approaches. * Pragmatics and Society * This book is a must-read for anyone interested in spoken discourse: it provides new insights and innovative analytical tools to students and scholars working with authentic discourse, as well as a comprehensive introduction to those new to the field. * Language in Society * I strongly recommend this book as an example of how we can rethink the way we teach spoken discourse especially when mediated through a complex of technology. The engaging examples shed light on spoken language which without the context would be simply empty 'talking heads'. * Asian Journal of Literature, Culture and Society * This book is without doubt a very valuable and thought-provoking contribution to the literature on spoken discourse analysis. Not only is it a useful reference as a history and explanation of various discourse analysis frameworks, it also offers a balanced and an up to date summary of all sides of the contemporary debates surrounding the terminology and approaches to discourse analysis. * LINGUIST List * A lively, well-written, up-to-date and competent discussion of what it means 'to converse', this book takes into account the whole process of 'doing things with words.' Rather than stating a theoretical premise first, then applying and exemplifying it, Jones starts 'in medias res', confronting us with a piece of discourse that gradually is developed, amplified, expanded, and then 'peeled off' to reveal the layers of theoretical insights that we can harvest from it. * Jacob L. Mey, Professor Emeritus of Linguistics, University of Southern Denmark * This book covers the field of spoken discourse with great clarity, breadth and depth. Examples of spoken discourse are provided which are both recognisable and highly relevant. Rodney Jones' book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in spoken discourse. * Brian Paltridge, Professor of TESOL, University of Sydney, Australia * This new book by Rodney Jones offers a highly original, engaging, and accessible approach to spoken discourse. Written from the perspective of a mediated approach to discourse, the book nevertheless covers the full range of previous approaches and methods, exemplifying them with engaging examples and explaining them in clear and accessible prose. The coverage is quite breath-taking. I highly recommend this book to both experienced discourse analysts and novices to the field. * John Flowerdew, City University, Hong Kong * If textbooks were novels, this one would be a thriller. With well-chosen examples, Rodney Jones creates a thoroughly contemporary story of spoken discourse and demonstrates that there is far more to it than just speaking. Highly recommended. * Adam Jaworski, Professor of Language and Communication, The University of Hong Kong * [Spoken Discourse] provides an excellent up-to-date overview of the discipline. It is written in a reader-friendly way with many examples discussed. The extensive bibliography is of great help to those interested in the subject. * Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Loerscher, Universitaet Leipzig, Germany *