Lecture 4: Spoken Discourse

A very very interesting phone conversation that I have found, enjoy :)

Here goes the transcript-

K-”Who’s calling?”

W-”Watt.”

K-”What is your name, please?”

W-”Watt’s my name.”

K-”That’s what I asked you. What’s your name?”

W-”That’s what I told you. Watt’s my name.”

A long pause, and then from Watt,

W-”Is this James Brown?”

K-”No, this is Knott.”

W-”Please tell me your name.”

K-”Will Knott.”

W-Why not?

K-Huh? What do you mean why not?

W-Yeah! Why won’t you tell me your name?

K-But I told you my name!

W-Didn’t you say you will not?

K-Not not, knott, Will Knott!

W-That’s what I mean.

K-So you know my name.

W-Of course not!

K-Good. So now, what is yours?

W-Watt. Yours?

K-Your name!

W-Watt’s my name.

K-How the hell do I know? I am asking you!

W-Look I have been very patient and I have told you my

name and you have not even told me yours yet.

K-You have been patient, what about me? I have told

you my name so many times and it is you who have not

told me yours yet.

W-Of course not!

K-See, you even know my name!

W-Of course not!

K-Then why do you keep saying of course Knott?

W-Because I don’t.

[Pause]

K-What is your name?

W-See, you know my name!

K-Of course not!

W-Then why do you keep asking Watt is your name?

K-To find out your name!

W-But you already know it!

K-What?

W-See, and you know mine!

K-Of course not!

W-Exactly!

K-Listen, listen, wait; if I asked you what your name

is, what will be your answer?

W-Watt’s my name.

K-No, no, give me only one word.

W-Watt

K-Your name!

W-Right!

[pause before it hits him]

K-Oh, Wright!

W-Yeah!

K-So why didn’t you say it before?

W-I told you so many times!

K-You never said Wright before

W-Of course I did.

K-Ok I won’t argue any more. Do you know my name?

W-I do not.

K-Well, there you go, now we know each other’s name.

W-I do not!

K-Good!

[pause before it hits him]

W-Oh, Guud!

K-Good.

W-No wonder, it took me so long, is that Dutch?

K-No, it’s Knott!

W-Oh, okay. At least the names are clear now Guud.

K-Yes Wright.

Despite it being funny, it actually show us how easy it is to result in mis-communication. It is especially true in telephone conversation where pronounciation and language differences are prominent in different cultures.

For a real life example, if one of you (who is reading the blog), has actually had a phone conversation with a person from India, then I guess you will understand what I meant. It actually goes back to our first lecture, where we share our common experiences in mis-communication, whereby, 2 speakers are speaking the same language but are still unable to understand each other. Mainly due to cultural differences. And sometimes, we might even misunderstood what the other party meant as well.

Looking through at the listener responses, I realise that sometimes, i use listener responses when I am drifting myself away from the topic (or I wasnt even listening at all). However, in order not to be rude and let the person know that I wasnt paying attention, i tend to use Repetitions to make the other party realise that i was actually "listening" since i am able to utter the last word that he or she has mentioned. And it works pretty well.. :)

Also, i feel that the same listener responses seem to be appropriate of use in computer mediated communications as well. Even more importantly in CMC because you dont see the other party, thus, the other party has to keep giving you listener responses so that you know that he or she is actually reading what you are typing.

SO, pls do leave a comment if you are reading this blog, else, i wont know that you actually here :)