Linguistic features of spontaneous speech predict conversational recall.

Abstract

Empirical studies of conversational recall show that the amount of conversation that can be recalled after a delay is limited and biased in favor of one's own contributions. What aspects of a conversational interaction shape what will and will not be recalled? This study aims to predict the contents of conversation that will be recalled based on linguistic features of what was said. Across 59 conversational dyads, we observed that two linguistic features that are hallmarks of interactive language use-disfluency (um/uh) and backchannelling (ok, yeah)-promoted recall. Two other features-disagreements between the interlocutors and use of "like"-were not predictive of recall. While self-generated material was better remembered overall, both hearing and producing disfluency and backchannels improved memory for the associated utterances. Finally, the disfluency-related memory boost was similar regardless of the number of disfluencies in the utterance. Overall, we conclude that interactional linguistic features of conversation are predictive of what is and is not recalled following conversation.