ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the nature of the conversational "turn-taking" or "floor apportionment". The phenomenon by which one interactant stops talking and another starts in a smooth, synchronized manner is considered the most salient feature of face-to-face conversation by some researchers. E. Goffman recognized that when two or more people come together to interact, they are making a symbolic commitment to one another to respect the role that each chooses to play. One role that is basic to almost all other roles that an interactant can present is the role of human being, one worthy and deserving of consideration and respect. Interaction rules can be considered from the perspective of communication theory. Communication consists of manipulating symbols; if these symbols are to be understood as intended, rules must exist for their encoding and decoding.
