‘It’s kind of like a middle ground’: students’ strategic management of silence in multicultural group work

Abstract

ABSTRACT Silence is commonly observed in multicultural group work (MGW) and classrooms, and silent students are often labelled with culture or language-related evaluation. This study explores how silences work in online MGW with a focus on turn-taking and sequence organisation. Drawing on data derived from naturally occurring interactions, the study examines how silences are repaired, managed and manipulated as locally derived interactional events. Findings suggest that silences in MGW are relevant to various local contingencies at an interactional level and can be employed by the speakers as a resource for specific interactional purposes.