ABSTRACT
The sequence types discussed in Chapter 3 are all adjacency pair (AP)-based. In this chapter, we go beyond the AP-based sequences and focus on two larger sequences: topic management and story-telling. Topic management and storytelling are vital interactional practices that enable us to partake, appreciate, and take pleasure in the full experience of a conversation. They are the very resources language learners can profit from in achieving integration into the target speech community. We offer a conversation analytic account of how participants (1) initiate, pursue, shift, and terminate topics, and how they (2) launch, produce, and respond to a story. Transcripts of naturally occurring talk showcasing real-life topic management and story-telling practices are used for illustration. The pedagogical relevance of the various practices is considered throughout the chapter. We conclude by suggesting ways of teaching topic management and story-telling.
