Watching paint dry: the sequentiality of idiomatic expressions in NS-NS and NS-NNS talk-in-interaction

Abstract

Conversation analysis research on naturally occurring NS-NS talk-in-interaction (Drew and Holt, 1988, 1995, 1998; Holt and Drew, 2005) has revealed that participants observably orient to shared expectations of the socio-interactional role of idiomatic expressions, particularly with regard to topic termination and transition. This study has analysed NS-NNS, as well as NS-NS, spontaneous conversation in order to evaluate and uncover recurrent features associated with the use of such expressions. Two main sequential patterns have been observed: one, occurring in both NS-NS and NS-NNS talk, is connected with topic termination and transition, in some (NS-NS) cases being extended to allow for the negotiation of interactional alignment between participants; the other, a `negotiative metatalk sequence', follows idiomatic expressions at points of possible topic conclusion and deals with NS-NNS trouble spots in which conversational participants' lack of shared understanding triggers coordinated negotiatory action that clears the way for the introduction of a new topic.