2015-08-21
269
1. Make up a short dialogue “Inviting a friend for a walk”
| A/ B/ A/ B/ |
Read the following conversations and answer the questions that follow
| a) I was gonna say if you wanted to I could show you around the city centre. b) Well I do not know if I’d want to see all that… a/ It’s really interesting |
| 1. How does “a” open the conversation? 2. How does “b” refuse the offer? 3. How does “a” react to the refusal? 4. Why does “a” use the phrase “It’s really interesting?” |
(Tip: the conclusion based on numerous examples is that following a rejection, speakers typically reformulate their offers thus continuing to put the offer through or in any case to “save the face” and to raise the importance of their offer)
2. Make up a short dialogue “Asking the way in the street”
| A/ B/ A/ B/ A/ B/ |
Read the following dialogue and answer the questions
| a) Do you know where that office is? b) It would be round the corner a) Oh, yeah to the right… b) Behind that high rising building… a) Yeah, yeah I understand… b) Next to it. There will be an elevation… |
| 1. How does “a” open the conversation? 2. How does “b” react to the question? 3. How does “a” signal comprehension? 4. What is “b”’s next step? 5. What makes “b” continue with explanations? |
(Tip: In case of a request for information the speaker whose role is to provide the information usually resorts to “redundancy” i.e. gives more information than is actually necessary)(Adapted from Nunan, D. 1993. Introducing Discourse Analysis. Penguin Books. P. 115-126).
