#2 Adjacency Pairs and Track 1/2

Adjacency pairs consist of a pair of signals in conversation – one participant does (typically says) something, and the other responds. The type and content of the second part are dependent upon the first and involve the uptake of a joint project proposed in the first part. For example, an acknowledgement would follow thankfulness, and a greeting from person B would follow a greeting from person A.

A conversation between two people includes two synchronous communication tracks. Track 1 contains the main purpose of the conversation – the official topics that both parties have decided to talk about. The function of Track 2 is to enable both parties to have a successful communication. This track becomes conspicuous, for example, when person B wants to make sure he correctly heard and understood something that person A uttered. In this track, people refer to the communication itself rather than its “official business.”

Instant Message Conversation

[1. Greeting] A: yo

[2. Greeting] B: hi

[1. Question] A: how do u take pics of a wmp

[2. Answer / 1. Question] B: huh {Track 2}

[2. Answer] A: wmp

[1. Question] A: how do u take a snapshot

A: of a movie file {End of Track 2}

[2. Answer / 1. Request] B: try pressing ctrl-i

[2. Acknowledgement / 1. Question] A: control and I {Track 2}

[2. Answer] B: yeah {End of Track 2}

[1. Question] A: do u pause it

A: or do it while its playin

[2. Answer] B: it doesnt matter

Text Message Conversation (with my mom, after she realized she could send texts)

[1. Assertion] Her: i did not no i cd tx msg

[2. Assent] Me: Wow i thought we tried it and you werent signed up for it

[1. Assertion] Her: i am slo

[2. Acknowledgement / 1. Suggestion] Me: if you learn how to use t9word its a lot faster and easier

[2. Acknowledgement / 1. Question] Her: how

[2. Answer / 1. Promise] Me: its hard to explain now.. ill tell you later, or maybe you can ask someone

[[no response to promise] 1. Assertion] Her: Dad bdy

[2. Assent / 1. Question] Me: I know, is he working late

[2. Answer] Her: yes