This study attempts to classify the types of pauses that occur during speech, and to analyze the functions of these pauses in spoken discourse. The work is based upon spoken language data which are organized spontaneously, not controlled. Two types of...
This study attempts to classify the types of pauses that occur during speech, and to analyze the functions of these pauses in spoken discourse. The work is based upon spoken language data which are organized spontaneously, not controlled. Two types of pauses were found to occur: pauses in turn constructional unit (TCU) and pauses in transition relevance place (TRP). In the first case, the pause occurs while a single speaker is talking. In the second case, the pause is relevant to the turn-taking system Then this consequence is as follows: the current speaker pauses, the next speaker pauses, and all conversational participants pauses. According to the two types, the pauses of both types serve one of four functions in the conversation: the first is to divide TCU into distinct information unit, the second is to provide another speaker an opportunity to speak. and the third is to begin turn effectively, the last is to determine that who takes the next tum.