Misunderstanding in Social Life: Discourse Approaches to Problematic Talk

by House; Juliane

• ISBN13: 9780582382220
• ISBN10: 058238222X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2003-01-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Misunderstanding is a pervasive phenomenon of social life, sometimes with serious consequences for people' s life chances. Misunderstandings are especially hazardous in high-stake events, for instance job interviews or in the legal system. In what is known as unequal power encounters, unsuccessful communication is regularly attributed to the less powerful participant, particularly when those participants are members of an ethnic minority group. By adopting a range of different theoretical perspectives on misunderstandings, this book sheds light on the many causes and consequences of misunderstandings in language use. This volume examines such problematic talk, including socializing occasions and story telling, education and assessment activities, and interviews in TV news broadcasts, employment agencies, legal settings, and language testing.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Juliane House

Misunderstanding in Intercultural University Encounters Juliane House, Hamburg University, Germany

Parasitic Forms of Misunderstanding Volker Hinnenkamp, Augsburg University, Germany

Repetition as a Source of Miscommunication in Oral Proficiency Interviews

Misunderstandings in Political Interviews

"I Couldn't follow her story": Gender and Ethnic Differences in New Zealand Narratives

Identity, Role, and Voice in Cross-Cultural (Mis)communication

Misunderstanding Teaching and LearningJoan TurnerTurner, JoanUK & Masako Hiraga11Hiraga11, UK & Masako9

Distrust: A Determining Factor in the Outcomes of Gatekeeping Encounters

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