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    The document discusses the two main functions of discourse: transactional and interactional. Transactional language aims to communicate a specific message, while interactional language aims to maintain a social relationship. Most discourse contains elements of both. Transactional discourse focuses on the message being understood correctly, while interactional focuses on the speaker appearing friendly. Typical contexts and content are also compared for each type of discourse.

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    DISCOURSE FUNCTIONS - TRANSACTION AND INTERACTION

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    08-09.12.Trans-Inter

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    The document discusses the two main functions of discourse: transactional and interactional. Transactional language aims to communicate a specific message, while interactional language aims to maintain a social relationship. Most discourse contains elements of both. Transactional discourse focuses on the message being understood correctly, while interactional focuses on the speaker appearing friendly. Typical contexts and content are also compared for each type of discourse.

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    2 views8 pages

    Meaning and Discourse in English

    Uploaded by

    PelifeBobill
    The document discusses the two main functions of discourse: transactional and interactional. Transactional language aims to communicate a specific message, while interactional language aims to maintain a social relationship. Most discourse contains elements of both. Transactional discourse focuses on the message being understood correctly, while interactional focuses on the speaker appearing friendly. Typical contexts and content are also compared for each type of discourse.

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    of 8

    MODULE 2

    Meaning and discourse in English

    DISCOURSE FUNCTIONS TRANSACTION AND INTERACTION


    Lecture 12

    Functions of discourse
    There are two important functions of any
    Form of discourse. These are:

    Transactional

    Interactional
    2

    Transactional and interactional


    The aim of transactional language is to
    communicate a specific message
    Id like a cup of tea, please - Here you are
    Howards being eaten
    The aim of interactional language is to maintain a
    social relationship
    good morning good morning

    Most discourse contains a mixture of


    transactional and interactional language

    Transctional v Interactional (1)


    Aims and consequences
    TRANSACTIONAL

    INTERACTIONAL

    Aim is for hearer to


    understand
    message correctly

    Aim is for hearer to


    feel that speaker is
    friendly

    It has an effect on
    the world

    It does not have an


    effect on the world
    4

    Transactional v Interactional (2)


    Typical contexts

    TRANSACTIONAL
    Doctor-patient
    Customer-bank
    clerk
    Teacher-pupil

    INTERACTIONAL
    Phoning mum
    Visiting a friend in
    hospital
    Chatting at a bus
    stop
    Internet chat
    Talking to the dog
    5

    Transactional v Interactional (3)


    Typical content

    TRANSACTIONAL
    how to take the
    medicine
    how to open an account
    how to do fractions
    recipe details

    INTERACTIONAL
    greetings
    coldness of the
    weather
    lateness of the bus
    prettiness of the
    baby

    Caf - Elizabeth/Jenny

    Typical chstics of speech - repetition, filler, expressions of


    attitude, simple lexis
    Transactional (Is that ..?; Ill have .. Can I have ? Well
    come back ..)
    Interactional (tag questions - havent I?, shall we? inclusive
    we; laughs; search for agreement; lots of speaker support and
    cooperation from all speakers
    Adjacency pairs (question-answer)
    Insertion sequence (with milk?)
    Preferred responses
    Politeness markers

    Conversations have both transactional


    and interactional elements
    The conversation in the caf is an
    example of both transaction and
    interaction:
    The exchange between Elizabeth and
    the assistant is basically transaction
    The exchange between Elizabeth and
    her friends in mainly interactional
    8

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