GRPUP 5

Domonique, Alexandra & Antelmo

Unit #2: Four Areas of a Discourse

System
ANT 312
ENGLISH

SPANISH

1. stranger (social distance)

Very personal and

very social. It
depends on age,
gender, and social
class. The English
speaker will want
to talk so they can
get to know each
other.

The Spanish
speaker has free
flowing
conversations with
anyone. Spanish
speakers feel the
need to
acknowledge
someone elses
presence.

2. intimate (social intimacy)

Between intimate
and personal.
Depending on the
relationship
Communication is
very important
because it is easy
to talk to each
other.

Conversations
occur at any
moment because it
is fundamental
that the presence
of each other is
acknowledged.

The stereotypical
English speaker is
dominant, but not
considered the
caretaker. Instead
is the spectator.

The dependent is
the exhibitionist
and is expected to
do most of the
speaking,
especially when
presenting the self
(caretaker).

Parent and child

relationships.

Is equivalent to
English.

It is completely
acceptable to
speak of the
future, talk openly
about goals, and
boast about
personal
achievements.

Is equivalent to
English but to a
certain extent. May
be viewed as cocky
and rude. May
come off as being
better than others.

I. Presentation of Self
A. Amount of talk and with whom (social distance)

B. Dominance, display, and dependence (power

relations)
1. dominant = caretaker

2. subordinate = dependent (bottom pg. 18)

C. Prohibited Actions: speak of the future, goals, or
personal achievements

II. Distribution of talk

(talk takes

cooperation)
A. Silences within turns (pausing)

B. Length of speaking turn

C. departures

D. Consequences

Constant talking.

Is equivalent to
English.

The dominant
speaker(s) has
more time to
speak while
subordinate has
less opportunity
to speak.

Is equivalent to
English.

Customary to say
goodbye and
good byes can be
long.

Is equivalent to
English.
Long good byes.

NA

NA

1. who speaks first

Dominant Speaker

Dominant Speaker

2. who controls turns

Dominant Speaker

Dominant Speaker

Subordinate
Speaker

Subordinate
Speaker

The use of
prosody is very
apparent.

Use a lot of
prosody.

Not very frequent

pauses.

Not very frequent

pauses.

Organized in
threes.

Organized in
threes.

Too long in length.

Can give too
many details.

Too many details,

very long in length.

Too many details

cause what is
remembered to
be a little hazy.

Same and English.

3. who speaks last

III. Information Structure (message about

the message) - how the listener should interpret what
is being said
A. location of communicative information in talk

B. pausing

IV. Content Organization

A. Conceptual organization
1. organization of information
2. perceptions of appropriate length too little or
too much
3. what is remembered and how