Generalised availability measures for a multi-unit repairable system with standby failure : P. K. Kapur, N. L. Butani and Renu Bala. Microelectron. Reliab.24 (4) 637 (1984)

Abstract

This paper combines interactional and phonetic approaches to examine the phonetics–interaction interface in the initiation of closings in everyday, British-English telephone conversations. Specifically, it investigates the phonetic and interactional properties of “multi-unit sequence transition turns” (such as “yes + okay then”), which are regularly employed by speakers to manoeuvre the call from some on-topic talk into the closing section. Such shifts are managed by these turns having a two-unit design in which the first unit attends to the preceding sequence and serves to close it down, and the second unit offers and makes relevant the subsequent action of call closure. In addition to commonalities in interactional function, these turns have systematic phonetic designs with various parameters such as pitch, loudness and glottalisation patterning together in different ways. The most striking phonetic regularity observed is the common occurrence of a click at the boundary between the two units. This paper contributes to our understanding of the organisation of call closings in British-English telephone interaction and demonstrates the fruitfulness of conducting context-bound, interactional and phonetic investigations hand-in-hand.