Language competence and the construction of expert–novice in NS–NNS interaction

Abstract

This study explores the interactional achievement of expert–novice in NS–NNS interaction. The analysis identifies interactional processes that contribute to expert–novice differentiation during team meetings that take place as part of an electrical and computer engineering course. Through analysis of data from the team interaction, participant perspectives, and ethnographic context, it is demonstrated that the NS takes on an expert identity, while the NNS takes on a novice identity as the NS and NNS engage in face-to-face interaction with each other. This expert–novice differentiation specifically occurs through the process of ratification, failure to ratify, and rejection of contributions. The NS's ability to gain expert status is linked to prior access to opportunities to participate in engineering teams and the forms of talk involved therein, which the NNS did not have access to. Conclusions indicate that this expert–novice relationship is not inherent to the NS–NNS relationship but that novice linguistically based identity has a bearing on the achievement of an expert non-linguistically based identity.