Interruption is not the same as merely making a sound while another is speaking
Such a sound can be supportive and affirming, which Tannen calls co-operative overlap
It can also be an attempt to take control of the conversation - an interruption or competitive overlap
Claiming/keeping turns
2 of 3
High involvement and high considerateness
High-involvement speakers are concerned to show enthusiastic suppot (even if this means simultaneous speech)
High-considerateness speakes are more concerned to be considerate of others
They choose not to impose on the conversation as a whole or on specific comments of another speaker
High-involvement speakers are ready to be overlapped because they will yield to an intrusion on the conversation if they feel like it...
...and put off responding or ignore it completely if they do not wish to give way
In the British House of Commons, there is a formal procedure for this, whereby a speaker requests permission to take the turn ("will you give way?")...
...and the speaker who has the floor will often do so ("I will give way"), on the understanding that the intervention is temporary...
...and that when the contribution is made, the original speaker will have the floor again
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