AN ANALYSIS OF TURN TAKING STRATEGIES USED BY HOST AND
GUEST IN THE TALK SHOW “THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW“
THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree Of English Department Faculty of Letters and Humanities State Islamic
University Sunan Ampel Surabaya
By
NUR KHASANAH Reg.Number A03211028
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL
AN ANALYSIS OF TURN TAKING STRATEGIES USED BY HOST AND
GUEST IN THE TALK SHOW “THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW“
THESIS
Submitted as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree Of English Department Faculty of Letters and Humanities UIN Sunan Ampel
Surabaya
By
NUR KHASANAH Reg.Number A03211028
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
FACULTY OF LETTERS AND HUMANITIES
STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL
SURABAYA
MOTTO
And say: "Work (righteousness) : Soon will Allah observe
your work, and His Messenger, and the Believers: Soon
will ye be brought back to the knower of what is hidden
and what is open: then will He show you the truth of all
DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to :
My beloved father
“
Sulaiman
”
& mother
“
Zulaikhah
”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Alhamdulillahi rabbil-alamin. By imprinting Allah’s name in my heart, I would like to send my beautiful thanks to Allah who has given His guidance and
blessing to the writer, so that she can finish her thesis. Shalawat and Salam are
delivered to my beloved prophet Muhammad SAW who has given me a beautiful
spirit to do the right things in the right way.
First of all, I express my sincere gratitude to the Rector of the State
Islamic University of Sunan Ampel, Prof. Dr. H. Abd. A’la, M. Ag., the Dean of
the Faculty of Letters and Humanities, Dr. H. Imam Ghazali, MA, and the Head
of English Department, Dr. Mohammad Kurjum M. Ag. who allowed me to
conduct this thesis without any trouble.
I also express my sincere gratitude to Raudhotul Jannah M.App. Ling as
my beloved advisor. She is very beautiful, kind and patient in giving me guidance.
Her constructive comments and suggestions have contribution to the success of
this thesis. She also inspires me about enthusiasm in running life. Special thanks
to all lectures at the English Department who have given me many valuable things
during I study in this beloved University.
I dedicate this thesis to my beloved parents “Sulaiman” and “Zulaikhah”
who always loved me unconditionally. They always taught me right from wrong,
without them none of my success would be possible. I also give thanks to my
and Mbak Qori’ who always support me to finish my thesis. Then, I give my
special thanks to my little nephew and niece (Ira, Egar, Rani) who always give me
a spirit.
Moreover, I give thanks to my classmates in SI A and KKN PAR 16 2015
for the valuable experience. My special thanks to Ciputra, Sanaz, Lia, Sa’adah,
Agustina, Aidar, Ita, Diana, Risa, Aini for love, smile and support to finish my
thesis. Also my little stars Nova, Riyan, Velen, Faro, Intan, Reval, Ilham who give
me color in my life. I also give my thanks to all people who have helped me in
making this thesis. Thank you very much.
June 1st ,2015
ABSTRACT
Khasanah,Nur. 2015. An Analysis of Turn Taking Strategies Used by Host and
Guest in The Talk Show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, English Department, Faculty of Letters and Humanities, State Islamic University Sunan Ampel Surabaya.
Advisor : Raudlotul Jannah M. App. Ling
Key Terms : Conversation analysis, Turn, Turn Taking Strategies, Talk Show
THESIS ADVISOR‟S APPROVAL SHEET ... vi
THESIS EXAMINER‟S APPROVAL SHEET ... vii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... viii
1.4 Significance of the Study ... 6
1.5 Scope and Limitation ... 6
1.6 Definition of Key Terms ... 7
2.1.5 Turn Taking Strategies by Stenström (1994) ... 12
3.3 Subject/ Participant ... 25
3.4 Data Collection ... 25
3.5 Instruments ... 26
3.6 Data Analysis ... 26
CHAPTER IV FINDING AND DISCUSSION 4.1 The Types of Turn Taking Strategies Used by Host And Guest In The Talk Show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show ... 29
4.1.1 The conversation between Ellen, Mario and Luigi ... 29
4.1.2 The conversation between Ellen and Jim Parsons ... 35
4.1.3 The conversation between Ellen and Sasha Alexander ... 41
4.1.4 The conversation between Ellen, Bars and Melody ... 46
4.2 The Functions of Turn Taking Strategies Used by Host And Guest In The Talk Show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show……….. 50
4.2.1 The conversation between Ellen, Mario and Luigi ... 50
4.2.2 The conversation between Ellen and Jim Parsons ... 53
4.2.3 The conversation between Ellen and Sasha Alexander ... 57
4.2.2 The conversation between Ellen, Bars and Melody ... 60
4.3 The Process of Turn Taking ... 63
4.3.2 The conversation between Ellen and Jim Parsons ... 65
4.3.3 The conversation between Ellen and Sasha Alexander ... 68
4.3.4 The conversation between Ellen, Bars and Melody ... 69
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION 5.1 Conclusion ... 74
5.2 Suggestion ... 76
REFERENCES ... 78
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of study
Humans are social creature who can not be separated from the
communication. In the process of communication, people can give and receive
information from each other by spoken, written, body language and symbol.
The content of communication varies, it can be in the form of delivering
information, educating or entertaining each other. Moreover, the one of
communication can be produced by a simultaneous conversation.
Conversation is a form of spoken interaction that is used by two or more
people. It includes the way people maintain their interaction and how their talk are
organized in a conversation. Given this, it is very important to understand about
conversation analysis in order to know how people take their turns in their spoken
interaction.
Conversation analysis is an approach that looks at the way in which people
take and manage turns in spoken interactions. The basic rule in conversation is
that one person speaks at a time, after which they may nominate another speaker
or another speaker may take up the turn without being nominated (Sack et al,
Cited in Partridge, 2006)
The statement informs that in a conversation involves two or more than
two people who are talking at the same time and then there will be another turn
for the listener who reply or answer the speaker. But not all the speakers have a
2
message that is delivered in conversation. To prevent such misunderstanding, all
the speakers must pay attention about the rules of the interaction in order to make
the conversation go smoothly. The rules about the speech patterns are called Turn
Taking Strategies.
Turn taking is how speakers change and manage their turn when they are
in a conversation. Stenström (1994) stated, there are three types of the turn taking
strategies. The first type is taking the turn, the second type is holding the turn, and
the third type is yielding the turn. These types explain about how people start the
conversation, how people carry on in talking and how people give the chance to
others.
Turn taking strategies is very important to be studied in conversational
interaction because it can be used to look how the participants manage and take to
exchange of speaking turn in interaction. Moreover, the participants in a
conversation use the turn taking strategies to achieve their conversational goals.
In our daily life, conversational interaction has different pattern such as
ordinary conversation and institutional conversation. Ordinary conversation
usually happens in the social such as conversation in telephone between brother
and sister or conversation between father and son in a family, etc. In contrast,
institutional conversation usually focuses on a particular order. In this case, the
participants talk is designed to reach the institution‟s goal rather than to carry a
personal relationship between individual, such as conversation between doctor
3
police office for interrogating the crime and conversation between host and guest
for interviewing in a talk show.
Talk show consists of speaker and listener who makes a conversation in on
air or off air. The speaker is the host who says something in the first time such as
give a statement and the listener is the guest who answers the host‟s statement. In
this conversation, the host must have a good ability and knowledge to make the
show run well and get the program‟s goal. In addition, talk show also has several
types of discussions such as Lifestyle which talks about health, fashion and food.
Second is the type of Late night talk show, it is a kind of comedy oriented talk
and variety show in the late night. The last type is Daytime show. In this show
mostly talks about current issues in social conflict or people‟s experience
(Danileiko, 2005)
Nowadays, talk show is becoming an everyday program for almost of
television channels around the world. The purpose of the talk show is to give
useful information as well as actual and entertaining the audiences. It usually
discusses about politics, celebrity gossips and real life experiences from the
guests.
In this research, the researcher uses The Ellen DeGeneres Show as her
object. The Ellen DeGeneres Show was taped in California. It is an American
television talk show. It is a kind of the daytime show.It has been one of the
world's highest rated shows and it has been awarded many Daytime Emmy
Awards. This show consists of celebrity or politician interviews, musical
4
invites the other non celebrities such as intelligent children, small business
owners, etc. This show begins on September 8th 2003 to present with duration 38
to 42 minutes and shown five times in a week (Ellen DeGeneres Show, n.d)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show is hosted by one of the well known woman in
America (Ellen DeGeneres). She is an American actress. She is also a
multitalented woman. She is also well known as a comedian (stand-up comedian).
She has been the host of her own award winning talk show. Ellen DeGeneres has
become a big hit with daytime viewers with her self titled talk show. She got a
Daytime Emmy Award, Grammy Award, Golden Globe Award and Primetime
Emmy Award. Ellen is a professional presenter who can bring a show attractively
and she can make a fun when she presents the show. By her talents, the Ellen
DeGeneres show gets high rating and it got an award as the best talk show in 2010
(Ellen DeGeneres Biography, n.d)
The researcher is interested in using this talk show because this program is
one of the best and popular talk show in America. Moreover, the concept of this
talk show is very homey, combining with comedy, celebrity, and human interest
stories. So it makes the audience very enjoyable and entertaining to the audiences.
Additionally, the researcher uses one episode with four guests in a different
section for analyzing her research. It focuses on the guest who are interviewed in
talk show such as, Mario and Luigi, Jim Parsons, Sasha Alexander and BAM
(Bars and Melody). The researcher uses this episode because the guests in this
5
talk about the current issue in their life. Moreover, their conversation also have
turn taking process when they participate in the talk show.
In this research, the researcher wants to explore turn taking strategies in
the participant‟s interaction with a focus on the conversation between host and
guest in the talk show. The researcher wants to know the turn taking strategies
because it is closely connected with how participants take their turn in a
conversation. Therefore, the researcher wants to show the readers about the function
of turn taking strategies. So that, they can apply it in their daily life in order to get
easy of conversation as social beings.
1.2 Research Problem
1. What are the turn taking strategies used by the participants (host and
guest) in the talk show “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show” ?
2. What are the functions of turn taking strategies used by the participants
in their conversation?
3. How do the participants take their turns in the talk show?
1.3 Objectives of the Study
1. To find out the types of turn taking strategies used by the participants
(host and guest) in the talk show “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
2. To find out the functions of turn taking strategies used by participants
in their conversation
3. To find out the participants (host and guest) take their turns in the talk
6
1.4 Significance of the Study
The purpose of this research is to explain the importance role of turn
taking strategies in the conversation used by host and guest in the talk show.
Therefore, the significance of this study is to give a scientific description about
how turn taking operates in the talk show. The researcher also hopes that the
readers of this paper will understand about how the people take and manage the
turn in a conversation.
Furthermore, the readers can achieve a data of turn taking and it also give
an explanation about the turn taking strategies that used to analyze in talk show.
The readers also can explore some information about what are the functions of
turn taking strategies that is used by host and guest in a conversation. Hopefully,
this thesis can be an inspiration for the students in the English Department of
Islamic University to conduct a research for their thesis.
1.5 Scope and Limitation
This paper focuses on studying conversation analysis, it deals with the talk
interaction between host and guest in the talk show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”.
This paper, limited on the types of turn taking strategies, the functions of turn
taking strategies and the process of taking the turn by participants in their
conversation.
As the subject of this study, the researcher uses the utterances which are
spoken by the participants in The Ellen DeGenes Show season eleven episode
7
1.6 Definition of Key Terms
In analyzing a conversation rules, there are some terms used to clarify
their meaning and context as follow:
1. Conversation analysis: An approach that looks at the way in which people
take and manage turns in spoken interactions (Sacks et.al cited in
Partridge, 2006)
2. Turn: Everything the current speaker says before the next speaker takes
over (Stenström, 1994)
3. Turn taking strategies: The ways participants change and manage their
roles when they become listener and speaker (Stenström, 1994)
4. Talk show: Television or radio programming which discusses about
CHAPTER II LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Theoretical Framework
This chapter is reviews the related literature which contains a description
on theories and studies which have been before. In this part, the researcher gives
the underlying theories that will be used to analyze the data.
2.1.1 Conversation Analysis
Conversation analysis is the study of talk in interaction. Litoseliti (2010)
stated that conversation analysis is to understand how turn taking within a stretch
of talk is negotiated between participants, in order to produce some form of social
action.It is more focus on production and interpretation of talk in interaction that
is oriented by the participant themselves.
This study is used to reveal two things in treating the transition between
speaker and listener during their talk in interaction. The first is the next turn,
which is the place where speakers display their understanding of the prior turn‟s
completion. It concerns with next speaker‟s understanding of the type of utterance
produced by prior speaker. The second concern with the next speaker‟s
understanding of the prior turn‟s content(Hutchby &Wooffitt, 1998). As explained
above, it shows that conversation analysis concerns how talk is produced and the
participants' understanding of what they are actually doing in their talk.
Therefore, conversation analysis is used to understand how talk is
9
participants that take the turn. A turn begins when the first speaker speaks before
the next speaker speaks. In this case, the first speaker creates or maintains a turn
for the next speaker. Then, the next speaker must understand or make sense about
the first speaker‟s intent. So, conversation analysis is used to know how
participants understand and respond to one another in their turns at talk.
2.1.2 Conversational Talk
Talk is a social activity, it consists of participants who consider of the
context in a conversation. The participants must be able to develop a feeling about
what they can (or cannot say) until they can reach the goal in their conversation.
Usually, in an interaction the participants do not only talk about the ordinary
conversation, but also talk about institutional interaction.
Ordinary conversation is the casual interaction in which the human
routinely engage on a daily basis (Hutchby & Woffitt, 1998). Contrast,
institutional interaction happens in a workplace setting. In this case, the
participants are oriented to a particular task or goal. For example, call to
emergency service or delivery of a medical diagnosis. Moreover, it involves
special and particular constraints on what one or both of the participants will treat
as allowable contributions to the business at hand. ( Levinson cited in Drew and
Heritage, 1992).
In institutional talk the participants speak in a particular order. In this
case, the participants speak to carry on the specific goal and orient to their
institutional identities for example: doctor and patient, teacher and student, host
10
not freeing produce their utterances or carry on a personal relationship between
the individual like in ordinary conversation. For instance, in talk show, the host
may have some idea to make the guest connect to the host‟s turn. It is designed to
get the goal in the program and it can be concerned with a limited range of topic
in talk show.
2.1.3 Talk Show
Talk show is a radio or television program in which usually well known
people talk about something or are interviewed ( Merriam Webster online, nd ). It
is a program that includes a conversational discussion on some of events in
different aspects: political, social, economical, educational, etc. It takes place in a
conversational media setting and the topic focus on the theme that is created in the
program. The purpose of a talk show is to give useful information as well as to
entertain.
Talk show has several major formats such as Lifestyle, Daytime show, and
Late night show. Lifestyle usually talks about health, fashion and food. Second is
daytime show, in this show mostly concerns about current issues, such as social
conflict and life‟s experience. Third is Late night show, it is a kind of comedy
oriented talk and variety show in the late night (Danileiko, 2005)
On a talk show involves of spontaneous conversation between the
participants, including the host and guest. The host as a maintainer for the
program and the guest give a response from the host‟s turn. In this case, the host
11
about the subject matter. Supported by Hutchby (2006) stated that host‟s action is
targeted to the audience which can provide an audible reaction in return.
Moreover, in talk show has many topics because there were so many
things that will be discussed by the host during conversation. The host usually has
some lists of topic that want to ask for the guest. The topic is subjects which are
talked in the conversation. Wardhaugh (1986) stated, a conversation usually
covers a number of topics and involves shifts from one topic to another, and
sometimes also a mix of topics. It means that the topic is important because it
helps the existence of the conversation. So the host may be able to present a
different kind of topics to make the program interesting.
2.1.4 Turn Taking
Turn taking is a fundamental study in a conversation. One of the basic
facts of the conversation is that the roles of speaker and listener change, which is
called turn taking, that is how the interlocutors change and manage their talks
whether becoming a speaker or listener in a conversation (Coulthard,1985).
Stenström (1994) stated, turn is everything the current speaker says before the
next speaker takes over. A turn in conversation is treated as the speech that a
participant in communication utters before another participant begins to speak.
Then a turn ends when somebody else claims the floor (Taeboda,2006).
Sack et.al, (1974) stated that the system of turn taking are (a) when the
current speaker selects the next speaker, the next speaker has the right and, at the
same time, is obliged to take the next turn; (b) if the current speaker does not
12
next speaker. This could be regarded as self-selection; and (c) if neither the
current speaker selects the next speaker nor any of the participants become the
next speaker, the current speaker may resume his/her turn
As explained above, turn taking is the changing role of the speaker and the
listener. It begins by the first speakers speak. In this case,the speakers take a
chance to speak or they try to keep their turn or give a chance to the next speaker
to take the turn. Then, the turn taking stops when there is nothing to say.
2.1.5 Turn Taking Strategies
In a conversation, the participants must have an ability to manage their
role in order to make their conversation go smoothly. In fact, some of them can
not do it well. Sometimes the listener may fail to get the message from the speaker
or the listener take the turn without waiting for the speaker finish his/ her speak.
So, it can make overlapping turns or the speaker may lose the thread.
To prevent these problems, the participants must consider some strategies
to know the rules and signals in conversation. Stenström (1994) stated, there are
three basic strategies in turn taking system. The strategies consist of taking the
turn, holding the turn and yielding the turn.
2.1.5.1Taking the Turn
This strategy is useful when the participants want to take a chance to speak
in conversation. In taking the turn, the next speaker can continue the topic from
13
also can show their feeling such as showing their agreement or disagreement.
Stenström divides taking the turn into starting up, taking over and interrupting.
a.) Starting up
Starting up is used to someone who initiates the talk first. Starting to talk
can be a difficult thing. Sometimes, a speaker has not a good preparation at the
beginning of the conversation. Starting up can involve a hesitant start and clean
start. A hesitant start most speakers do not give up the turn at once but take
advantage by using filled pauses (ex: əm, ə:m) and verbal fillers (ex: well, I mean,
you know). This strategy is used when the speakers take the turn without being
fully prepared. The speakers show that they want to say something and they need
more time to put in into the word, for example:
B: Well, ə:m I mean that ə:m your idea is very nice
It shows that the speaker intends to say something but needs more time to
put it into words by using Verbal filler (well) and filled pauses (ə:m)
On the other hand, if the speakers often prepare before they will take the
turn, usually word „well‟ come up at the beginning of the utterance and it makes a
clean start, for example:
A: Well what does he say - stick an initial label on the back
It shows that speaker tries to attract the attention of the listener at the
14
b.) Taking Over
The speaker who responds the previous speaker said, it called as taking
over and it is connected by an Uptakes or links. Uptakes are started with an
appealer ( ex: you know) which will be continued with uptake ( ex: yeah, oh, well,
ah, no, yes) by the next speaker. Uptake strategy happened when the next speaker
acknowledges receipt of what the previous said and evaluate it before going on. In
addition, uptakes do not always come after appealer but it can be produced
without appealer, for example:
A: But I got a telegram last ə:m. Friday – . Saying that there was trouble
afoot you know
B: Yeah, trouble a leg anyway
From the example above, the speaker A uses “you know” to give the turn
to listener B. Then the listener B directly answer the speaker A said,
Uptakes without appealer
A: nobody knows about this secret
B: Ohthat‟s right
It shows that the speaker B uses an uptake Oh without appealer from
speaker.
There is one more strategy for taking over by using Links ( and, but,
because). In this case the speaker uses conjunction and which connect sentences
and clauses, for example :
A: You met her
B: No –No
15
(the speaker A uses link in order to inform the previous speaker by using
conjunction because)
c.) Interrupting
Interrupting happens when one person initiates talk while another person is
already talking. Furthermore, interruption is divided into alerts and
metacomments. Alerts ( ex: hey, listen, look) is used to attract the other people‟s
attention. Usually in doing alerts, the speaker tends to be louder than the others
and produce with a higher pitch, for example:
A: oh well that‟s very good if you can fool him just for an instant *
B: *LISTEN if * you feel like a FILM tomorrow night MIKE – (B interrupt A by using high pitch, so that A can not continue his/ her
talking)
The second is metacomments (ex: can I just tell, let me just, may I halt
you) also can be used in interrupting others, but it is particularly common in
formal situation and politely, for example :
A: əm – but more important than that.*since it‟s really a matter of nomenclature*
B:*could I halt you there* could I halt you there and answer that point first –
(The speaker B interrupts the previous speaker politely)
2.1.5.2Holding the turn
Holding the turn means carry on talking. It is used when the speakers still
want to hold the chance to speak, but they difficult to plan what to say and they
16
way through the turn. There are four devices to help the speaker avoid a
breakdown and take over, such as filled pauses and/or verbal fillers, silent pauses,
repetition and new start.
a.) Filled pauses and/or verbal fillers
Filled pauses and/or verbal fillers can usually be taken to indicate that the
speaker has no intention to yield the turn but is actually planning what to say next.
But in the holding the turn, the speaker should not make a pause too long because
it can makes the next speaker chance to speak. So, it must be done in short time,
for example :
A: …. And all this way done ə: - - by - - kind of letting - ə: - - . well really
by just ə: - - sort of ə - starting from nothing …
( it shows that the speaker is trying to think what he/ she is going to say
and it is only used in the short time)
b.) Silent pause
A silent pause can act as a turn holder. It is a sign that tries to keep the
listener until the current speaker finish talking. It is a very long pause than filled
pauses, for example:
B: and SUDDENLY(0.4) the more brilliant people APPEAR
The speaker uses silent pauses (0.4) to hold the turn. he / she needs a few
time to think of what will he/she says
c.) Lexical repetition
17
A: ….. cos I mean it doesn‟t make any difference if if if if if if you‟ve got
five thousand quid. ə five thousand quid is no good to you if everything.
Cost fifty per cent more than it did.
Furthermore, it can also consist of clause partial, for example:
A: …. And he said well how old do you think this child is you see --- and I didn‟t have a clue. You see it was a it was a. it was it was an Asian child between the age of. It was standing up so therefore it was thirteen months. to four years
Besides single words and clause partials, a lexical repetition can have the
combinations of both of them in a single turn, for example :
A: … an awful lot of it is a loy more English than England --- I mean they
you know theythey they they say vest meaning undergarment
In the last example it shows that the speaker (A) wants to hold the turn by
repeating the word. The speaker repeats the clause I mean and you know which
both of them have the same meaning.
d.) New start
New start is used if the speakers can not continue the conversation then
they can make a new start, for example:
A: but I feel somehow. The sheer fact of not having to have , to have. This
really sort of –it‟s for one thing it does nark me that …
( It shows that the speaker cannot use his/ her ideas by using lexical
repetition, silent way, filled pause and verbal fillers, and the only way is to start
all over again)
Sometimes, the people forget about what exactly they have to say after
18
of repetition, pauses and verbal fillers before they finally realize that the only way
out of the troublesome situation is to start all over again.
2.1.5.3Yielding the turn
In the last strategy of turn taking is yielding the turn. In this term, the
previous speaker gives the chance to the next speaker without much protesting
because the speaker wants to hear for response. Furthermore, there are several
ways to yield the turn to others, such as by prompting, appealing, and giving up.
a.) Prompting
In prompting, the participants act prompt the other participant to respond
more strongly than others. Prompting consist of apologizing, greeting, inviting,
offering, questioning and requesting, for example:
A: Hi , Jane!
B: Hi
A: Would you like to come to my birthday party, please?
B: Yes, I‟d love to
(In this case, B is complied to respond A since an invitation always
requires an answer).
b.) Appealing
Appealing means a turn which gives an explicit signal to the listener in
order to give feedback such as: question tag, all right, right, ok, you know, you
19
A: You have done your homework, right?
B: Yes, I have
( the speaker A uses utterance “right “in order to B gives a response
directly).
c.) Giving up
In giving up strategy, the speakers realize that they do not have anything
more to say and they give the chance to others by making a long pause. This
strategy will push the listeners to take their turn, for example:
A: And they sort of hand it over to the police who dispose of it in the way they think fit (0.3)
B: It‟s like Ella and Henry‟s flick – knife.
(The speaker A uses a pause to indicate that he finishes his/her turn)
2.1.6 Gesture
Communication is not only produced by verbal, but it also produced by
nonverbal. In the process of verbal communication, the message is delivered by
using utterances. Whereas, in nonverbal communication the participants use
gesture to communicate each other, such as: move their hand, their head, their
arms or their whole body. Supported by Duncan (1972) stated that in a
communication, there are signals that speaker and hearer send to each other in
order indicate their state with regard to the turn. The signals have the important
role in direct communication. The one of the signals is gesture.
Gesture is a body movement that appears to contribute to the meaning of
20
say,such as pointing gestures are regarded as indicating an object, a location, or a
direction a place. Supported by Alibali et al. (2000) stated that the action of
gesturing helps speakers to organize spatial information and in this way, gesture
plays a role in conceptualizing the message to be verbalized
According to McNeill (Cited in Tellier, 2000) there are four categories of
gestures: iconic, metaphoric, deictic and beats.
Iconic gesture represent images in the shapes of objects or people. For
instance, someone holding a steering wheel while saying “drive” while showing a
width with both hands open and facing.
Metaphoric gesture emphasis in abstract concepts rather than concrete
objects. If the speaker holds one cup in his hands and then he says the word
“concept” for instance, it is a metaphoric gesture because the cup acts as a
symbolic image for the idea of a “concept”.
Deictics gesture refer to things by pointing with the hand, the finger, the
chin, etc. They can be either concrete pointing to someone, something or
somewhere, like when one says “your glasses are here on the table” while point
towards the table and the glasses. But it can also be abstract pointing when
referring to something/someone absent or a place or even a moment in time, like
for instance, one points to the right to mean China or in their back to refer to the
past. Deictics can be shaped by cultural characteristics as geographical and time
references differ between languages and cultures
Beats is the movements that have no semantic connection to the speech
21
would be a flick of the finger or of the hand, it has two movements phases-in/out,
up/down, etc.
2.2Review of Related Studies
Several researchers have studied about turn taking in other fields, for
instance: Emita christanti (2011) as the student of Petra Christian university. She
investigated about the turn taking strategies used in social and political talks of
“Apa kabar Indonesia malam” show. In her research, she used three kinds of turn
taking strategies that is proposed by Stenstrom (1994) as the theory. She used
descriptive quantitative method in performing her studied. Moreover, she was
curious about the types and frequencies of turn taking strategies. She found out
that taking the turn is the highest strategy in both social and political talks.
Holding the turn is much higher in political talks because the participants are
eager to hold the turn as long as possible and yielding the turn is much higher in
social talks.
Tanti Puspitorini (2006) as the student of Airlangga University had done a
research about turn taking organization in the theory of English literature class. In
her research, she was curious about the differences between the modified turn
taking rules in the classroom setting and the general turn taking rules proposed by
Sacks et al. And the significant features of those modified turn taking rules. She
used qualitative method in her research. She also found that the differences
between the general turn taking rules and the modified turn taking rules
concerning the different participants and settings. In the classroom talks there is
22
lecturer has a privileged role in controlling the turn taking. The significant
features are mostly found in the lecturer's turns because she has high permutability
of turn taking. While in the students' turns, they have no right to permutate the
turn taking, they mostly use self-selection to respond the lecturer's turns. The
unique cases mostly found in the lecturer's turns are the occurrence of the
overlaps.
Puspita Ayuningtyas Prawesti (2006) as the student of Airlangga
University had done research about the organization of turn taking in
criminal sessions based on Sack et.al theory. She was curious about the technical
differences between the general turn taking rules proposed by Sacks et.al and the
modified ones in criminal sessions. She used qualitative method in her research.
She also found out that there is an unequal power of speech exchange mechanism
between participants because there are two participants (judge and the prosecutor)
who serve as the turn permutators but the other participants defendant and witness
do not have such authority to distribute the turns. Furthermore, the possibilities of
a judge's turn are higher than those of a prosecutor's turn are. In addition, both
turn distributors attempt to minimize pause. Additionally, prosecutors always
utilize objection to do self-selection. Last, in criminal sessions, there are many
occurrences of overlapping talks, interruptions, and violations of the turn taking
rules. Every violation is treated seriously by both turn distributors and most of
violations done by judges are compromised.
I used these research as my previous studies because it had given me a lot
23
differences. The similarities are: Tanti (2006), Puspita (2006) and Emita (2011)
have the same topic with my research. Moreover, Tanti (2006), Puspita (2006) use
the same method and my research also uses the same theory with Emita (2011).
While the differences between previous studies and my research are: Emita (2011)
uses descriptive quantitative method and analyses about the turn taking strategies
used in social and political talks of “Apa kabar Indonesia malam” show. Tanti
(2006) analyses about turn taking organization in the theory of English literature
class based on Sack et.al theory. And Puspita (2006) analyses about the
organization of turn taking in criminal sessions based on Sack et.al theory.
Different from my research, I uses The Ellen DeGeneres show as my object and
Stenström theory. Moreover, my research also uses different statement of
problems and finding with their research. This research is hoped to enrich the
information about turn taking strategies and it is also hoped to fulfill the
CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODS
This chapter presents the research method that consists of research design,
data source, subject/participant, data collection, instruments of the research, and
data analysis.
3.1 Research Design
The researcher used Conversation Analysis approach to analyze turn
taking strategies used by the host and the guest in the talk show “The Ellen
DeGeneres Show”. This research used this approach in order to get an
understanding of how turn taking strategies was formed in the talk show. There
are several reasons in the preference of employing this approach. First, turn taking
is one of the aspects of conversational interactions. Second, the researcher tried to
discover the function of turn taking strategies in talk show. Third, the researcher
intended to reveal how the participants take the turns, hold the turn and yield the
turn in the talk show.
This research used qualitative method to make interpretations of the data
based on theory. Moreover, the researcher used this method because the data in
the form of words descriptively, not in the form of a percentage or numeral. This
research focused on the conversation used by the hosts and the guest in a talk
show which simultaneously created in interaction and the turn taking applied in
25
3.2 Data Sources
The data for this research was the utterance between Ellen and her guest in
The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Then, the main source was the video of The Ellen
DeGeneres Show that was taken from YouTube in episode 163 on 22nd May 2014.
In this episode consists of four guests in a different section. It was chosen as the
data because the guests who were invited on this show was well known person
and the utterance that used by the host and the guest contained of the process of
turn taking.
Moreover, the dialogue in this talk show was interesting to be analyzed
because it could give us an understanding of how we could guide ourselves during
conversation. In this research, the transcription was also important because it gave
detail of interaction that was missed by the listener before. So in this research, the
video became the first data source and the transcription became the second data
source.
3.3 Subjects/participant
This data was taken from a video in YouTube and transcribed it. The
participants included host and guest who participate in talk show such as, Ellen as
the host and the guests were Mario and Luigi, Jim Parsons, Sasha Alexander, Bars
and Melody.
3.4 Data Collection
In order to collect the data, the researcher used YouTube to collect The
26
hosts and guest. The researcher also made some notes in the process of turn taking
during watching the video. The researcher did it because she wants to know what
are the types and the function of turn taking strategies and how the participants
take their turn in their conversation in talk show. After collecting all the data, the
researcher analyzed and interpreted it.
3.5 Instruments
In this research, the researcher as the main instrument. The researcher was
the one who identified, observed and analyzed in this research. The researcher
used some tools to support her research such as:
a. Internet : it was used to browsing some related studies
b. YouTube : it was used to get the video of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
c. Transcription : it was used to transcript her data and It was written by
using written symbol, such as ( to show rising and falling shifts in
intonation)
3.6 Data Analysis
After collecting the data, the researcher organized the data by reading the
data transcription. Then the researcher tried to find the turn taking strategies based
on data. And the researcher tried to find the process of turn taking and how the
participants take the turn in their conversation. The data were analyzed by using
the theory of turn taking to identify the conversation. After that the researcher
27
the data concerning conversation between the host and the guest in talk show. The
procedures of the analyzing data are followed :
1. First, the researcher watched the video in several times to comprehend the
pattern of turn taking strategies that used by the participants in the talk
show.
2. Then, the researcher transcribed the data based on data transcription. In
this step, the researcher need some symbols by Gail Jefferson (cited in
Lerner 2004) for typing the participant’s conversation such as:
// (Double obliques): indicates the point at which a current speaker’s
talk is overlapped by the talk of another
[ (A left bracket): indicates the point of overlap onset ( the currently
used alternative to the double obliques)
] (A right bracket): indicates the point at which two overlapping
utterances end
= (Equal signs): indicates no break or gap
(0.0) (Number in parentheses): indicates elapsed before time by tenths
of seconds
- (A dash): indicates the sharp cut-off of the prior word orsound
:: (Colon): extended or stretched sound, syllable, or word
(( )) (double parentheses): contain transcriber’s descriptions
CAPS particular loudness of that part of a unit
? (Question Mark): rising vocal pitch
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3. After transcribing the data, the researcher classified the data transcription
to marked in which part the participants used Turn Taking Strategies.
Turn
Starting up A hesitant start
Er:::rr we:::ll you know
Metacomments I couldn’t agree more ..
Holding
4. After having the data of the turn taking strategies used by host and guest in
Ellen DeGeneres show, the researcher described and interpreted the data
CHAPTER IV
FINDING AND DISCUSSION
The aim of this study is about what are the turn taking strategies that used
by host and guest in The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The second contains about the
functions of turn taking strategies used by the participants. The third contains
about how the participants take their turn. This study discusses about turn taking
strategies used by the host and the guests in The Ellen DeGeneres show.
The description and identification of turn taking strategies used in the talk
show “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” are follow:
4.1 The types of Turn Taking Strategies
In this case, the researcher analyzed about the types of turn taking
strategies used by the participants in a different section. Besides, the word turn
was shortened (T).
(Guest 1): The conversation between Ellen, Mario and Luigi
In a conversation between the host (Ellen) and the guests (Mario and Luigi),
the researcher found that the host and the guests used Turn Taking Strategies. The
analyzed of the data were followed:
Table 4.1 Taking the turn strategies that were used by the participants Turn
well thanks for being here Mario and Luigi an:::d we will right back (T21)
and interrupting. The first was starting up, it was divided into A hesitant start and
A clean start. A hesitant start happened when Ellen asked Mario to kiss Luigi
because she thought that they were very happy about their relationship. Moreover,
in this conversation they confessed that they were a lover. After the host gave her
turn, the guest (Mario) took his turn without prepared well. In this case, he still
thinking about what the turn that he would be delivered (T20). He said :mmm
before he took his turn. Unfortunately, the guest could not give a feedback for the
host’s command, because he thought that it was like a privacy that could not be
shown to others.
Ellen : =ohh great (0.3) you two seem so very happy its really great. you
can kiss if you want to - if you want to, like celebrate (T19) Mario : =mm::::mm my belle is very private (T20)
Ellen : =yeah (( audience laugh)) all right, well thanks for being here Mario and Luigi an:::d we will right back (T21)
Mario and Luigi: = thank you Ellen (T22)
In T21, the host (Ellen) used A clean start strategy. It happened in the end
31
wanted to maintain her show because she thought that the show was over. So, she
used this strategy although she did not prepare herself well.
Data 2
During the participants took their turn, they used Taking over strategy. It
was divided into Uptakes and Links. In this conversation, the researcher found
just one Link that was used by Luigi. He took his turn by producing Link and . It
is used to inform the other about his self (T3). Therefore, he used it to show his
existence on this talk show.
Mario :=yeah, thank you, yeah yeah ITS ME MARIO HEY
EVERYBODY ((wave his hand)) (T2)
Luigi : AND I AM LUIGI (T3)
Data 3
The second taking the turn strategy was Uptakes. In T19, Ellen used
Uptake ohh because the previous speaker Mario used the appealer “You know”.
Moreover, Ellen used it in order to respond the previous utterances. In T2, T12
and T13 Mario and Ellen used an Uptake yeah. They used it when they
overlapped the turn or it used when the next speaker wanted to respond the first
speaker a bit sooner. Besides, this strategy also used to give an understanding
about the first speaker’s turn. It could be seen in T16 and T17.
Data 4
The other taking the turn strategy was Interrupting (Alert), it could be seen
32
turn with high pitch. He did it because he wanted to make a clarification about his
relationship with Mario (T10).
Ellen : wo::::::w I had - I had no (0.8) ((laugh)) Alright I had no idea (T8)
Mario : we (T9)
Luigi : // wehave always said that we were lovers, but people
misheard us because I’m CRAZY accent (T10)
The second Interrupting strategy happened in the conversation between
Ellen and Mario (T13). When Ellen took her turn and she tried to maintain her
show, the guest (Mario) overlapped her turns. Mario started his utterance a bit
sooner than it actually did. In this case, Ellen was difficult to maintain her show.
So, she interrupted him by using the word “interrupt” with high pitch. It used to
make the host could give a question to continue her show.
Mario : yeah thanks ITS ME MARIO EVERYBODY, thank you Ellen thank you (T12)
Ellen : [yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah]
interrupt (0.6) where did you to met? (T13)
Mario : =wo:::::::::w that’s a good short story you know? (T14)
Table 4.2 Holding the turn strategies that were used by the participants
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whole wide(T5)
New start -
Data 5
Another strategy that was used by the participants in this conversation was
holding the turn strategy. According to Stenstrom's theory, holding the turn
involves: filled pauses and/or verbal fillers, Silent Pauses, lexical repetition, and
new start. In this conversation, the researcher found two strategies that was used
by participants such as, silent pauses and lexical repetition.
In turn (T5) Luigi used holding the turn by using lexical repetition. He
repeated his utterance “we want to tell to tell the whole wide“. He used it to show
that he wanted to go on speaking by repeating those sentences not once but twice.
It also happened in (T8), Ellen repeated her utterance “I had no I had no Alright
I had no idea”. In (T11) Ellen used lexical repetition “ I I its great I I I‘m happy for you ”. In these conversation, Ellen wanted to hold the turn by gaining the time.
Moreover, she also used lexical repetition in (T19). “You can kiss if you want to if
you want to,like celebrate”. It showed that there was no doubt that the speaker was trying to gain time.
Data 6
After Luigi made a clarification, the host (Ellen) took her turn (T11).
When she got the turn, she gave some statement. In this case, she used silent
pause twice because she wanted to maintain her turn.
Luigi : // wehave always said that we were lovers, but people
misheard us because I’m CRAZY accent (T10)
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important for everyone to be exactly. who they are ? SO
CONGRATULATIONS an::d :mm (T11)
Table 4.3 Yielding the turn that were used by the participants Turn
Appealing Alright I had no idea (T8)
Giving up
I see (0.2) so now the matching outfits make a
little more sense ok, I - I - its great I - I - I’m
happy for you and (0.3)I think its important for everyone to be exactly who they are ? SO CONGRATULATIONS an::d er:::rrr (T11)
Data 7
In (Turn 4), Ellen used Prompting strategy to give a question to her guest. In
this case, Mario and Luigi got a protest from others because they were same-sex
characters in a video game. So, Ellen wanted to know their response about this
issue and need a clarification from them. The other strategy that was used in this
conversation was Appealing, it could be seen in (T8). The host (Ellen) used this
strategy because she wanted to give a turn to their guests. In this case, she used an
explicit signal such as, the utterance “Alright I had no idea”.
Ellen : ok (0.2) I wanted to know ho:::w both have you felt about this whole thing? (T4)
Luigi : this isn’t even a true, Mario and I want to make an announcement
35
Data 8
The researcher also found Giving up strategy in (T11), The host Ellen used
Giving up strategy to give the turn to her guests because she had no more to say
and it’s time for Mario respond her turn. The host also used longer pauses to
indicate it. Finally, Mario took the turn and gave a response to her.
Ellen : = I see (0.2) so now the matching outfits make a little more sense ok, I - I - its great I - I - I’m happy for you and (0.3)I think its important for everyone to be exactly who they are ? SO CONGRATULATIONS an::d er:::rrr (T11)
Mario : yeah thanks ITS ME MARIO EVERYBODY,thank you Ellen thank you (T12)
(Guest 2) :The conversation between Ellen and Jim Parsons
Table 4.4 Taking the turn strategies that were used by the participants Turn
A clean start wel::l I think that that obviously
with you baby
In this case, Ellen asked about the story in the sitcom that was played by
36
strategy because he had not good preparation. He still thinking to answer the Ellen
question.
Data 10
Jim : // I don’t - I don’tthink that it doesn’t] (T64) Ellen :=yeah but for eleven years is enough time, you know that? (T65)
In this conversation, Ellen used Uptakes strategy “yeah” (T65). She used
this strategy to respond the previous speaker. She also used it to give an
understanding about the first speaker’s turn. Moreover, in this case Ellen wanted
to continue her utterances by giving a question because she was curious about
Jim’s relationship with Todd. Ellen thought that Jim will be better if he married
with Todd.
Data 11
Ellen : =and I am a huge tennis fan also (T93)
Jim : <are you really? (T94)
Ellen : yeah (T96)
In a conversation between Ellen and Jim, Ellen used Link strategy “and”
(T93). In this case, Ellen took the turn by responding the Jim’s utterance. In the
previous, Jim said that he likes to watch tennis and he was a sports fans also. After
that, Ellen used this strategy because she wanted to inform that she was a tennis
fans also.
Data 12
Jim : no - no I’m. I don’t know THAT’S HARD I mean you get so use
to your life as it is that (T62)
Ellen : [ but it gets better when you’re married, it
37
In a conversation between Ellen and Jim, the researcher also found Alert.
In turn (T63), Ellen interrupted Jim’s utterance with a higher pitch. Ellen spoke in
a same time when Jim still speaking. She used this strategy to give a suggestion to
Jim. Ellen thought that Jim will be better if he got married with his boyfriend.
Data 13
Ellen :=ok I will go someplace else ((Ellen moves)) (T150)
Jim :ok (T151)
Ellen : = wel::l I think that that obviously with you baby and I just watching just knowing for a little while and seeing how
comfortable you ar::e and how happy you ar::e and the success
that, you ha::ve and then you look at Michael Sa::m, you look at
this football player who was just drafted who is in amazing
an::d I think things like that make a difference and I - I hope that
makes a huge difference (T152)
Jim : [wel::l I couldn’t agree more, you know I’ve done I’ve enjoyed doing press for this movie so much cause I think its so
good and I think it is an important story for people and one of
the things I keeps saying is that you know a lot of the ground I
walk on these days is very much grounded that’s on top at the
shoulders of the men and women depicted in this . An::d (0.2)and
the differences is they made for ə:mm not just gay people that
humans in general and (0.2)I have to be honest with you when I knew that I was coming on here to talk about it. I was talking the
segment producer about you and I said and look the middle of
the thirty year period between this play, and where I am right now with this movie some certain person I’m sitting with was on the cover of Time magazine. and (0.3) those shoulders seriously ((applause)) you know (0.3) I - I and many people stand on your shoulders (T153)
In (Turn 152), Ellen used Clean start “Well”. It happened when she
wanted to continue her utterances. This strategy was used as a linking device to
begin her turns. In this case, Ellen used this strategy to give an opinion about the
38
although he got a press by the story of his movie. Ellen thought about it because
his movie told about the HIV crisis among gay people.
Then, In (Turn 153) Jim used Metacomments strategy to interrupt Ellen
politely. He interrupted Ellen because he wanted to give a response for Ellen’s
opinion. Jim told that because he felt enjoy for the press in his movie. He wanted
to tell the people that this story could give a good message. This story was not just
for gay people, but it was also for the humans in general. Jim wanted to convince
to Ellen that the gay community did not get discrimination by this movie. Jim
thought like that because they were a gay. Besides, Jim also said to Ellen that
many people stood on her shoulder because he wanted to give a support to Ellen.
Table 4.5 Holding the turn strategies that were used by the participants Turn
the movie that the first days the AIDS crisis in New York
City and ə:mm and so early
that …. (T25)
Silent pauses they don’t mention it (T125)and they don’t want to (0.2) Lexical repitition attention (T125) it’s a - it’s a real battle to get New start feeling so fortified (T125) I don’t know I just left it
Data 14
Ellen : =she is amazing great cast. what the movie is about? (T124)
Jim : ə:mm briefly the movie that the first days the AIDS crisis in New
York City and ə:mm and so early that they don’t know what the
hells going on in there trying to figure it out just the emergency
that ensues and it really boils down to:: it’s a - it’s a real battle to
get attention paid governmentally, scientifically, and financially to
39
it there’s shame that the disease and that couples with the mystery is just it’s a - it’s a perfect storm of terror. I will sa::y that as touching as the movie is through the whole film and as horrifying as many parts there is a real great message of hope at the end I feel. there’s I- I feel I’ve seen it a couple times now cause of
screeners an::d ə:mm an:::d (0.2) I don’t know I just left it feeling
so fortified to go out treat people a little bit better, an::d to me
that was kind a uplifting you no::w (T125)
From the conversation above, the researcher found some turn taking
strategies which were used by Ellen and Jim in this show. In (T125), after the host
(Ellen) asked the guest (Jim Parsons) about his new movie “The Normal Heart”
directed by Ryan Murphy, Jim answered Ellen’s question by using four strategies.
He used holding the turn strategy such as filled pauses and/or verbal fillers, new
start, silent pauses and lexical repetition.
Jim used holding the turn strategy Filled pause “ə:mm”. It was used to
keep his turn in order to prevent Ellen took the turn. Besides,Jim also used Lexical
repetition for four times in (T125). The one of the signal was“it’s a - it’s a “. It
was very clear to show that he wanted to go on speaking by repeating those
sentences. In this case, Jim wanted to tell about the story in his movie. He also
told the audiences that this movie has a real great message. The other strategy that
was used by Jim is Silent pauses. He used it as turn holder. He used silent pauses
after conjunction and to show that he wanted to give more information to the
audiences about his movie. Besides, he used silent pauses to remember about what
exactly he had to say after he talked before. Unfortunately, he could not remember
40
Table 4.6 Yielding the turn strategies that were used by the participants Turn
Prompting now we are not married at this point, are you
gonna get married? (T61)
Appealing yeah but for eleven years is enough time, you
know that? (T65)
Giving up but -but there is some:: (0.3) I don't know (0.2) (T129)
Data 15
Ellen : =now we are not married at this point, are you gonna get married? (T61)
Jim : no - no I’m. I don’t know THAT’S HARD I mean you get so use
to your life as it is that (T62)
Ellen : [ but it gets better when you’re married, it
really does don’t think that its doesn’t ] (T63)
In (T61), Ellen used Prompting strategy. She used it because she wanted
to ask Jim about his relationship with his boyfriend. Because an article in New
York noted that Jim Parsons was a gay and he had a relationship with Todd
Spiewak. So, in this show Ellen asked him to know about his plan to marry. Ellen
wanted to get a clarification about this news..
Data 16
Jim : // I don’t - I don’t think that it doesn’t] (T64)
Ellen :=yeah but for eleven years is enough time, you know that? (T65) Jim : he’s watching Todd (T66)
Ellen :yeah (T67)
In (Turn 65), Ellen used Appealing strategy “you know that”. She gave a
chance to Jim in order to give a feedback from her utterance. In this case, Ellen
41
Data 17
In (T129), Jim gave a chance to the others to take the turn by using giving
up strategy. He realized that he had no more to say. Besides, he also thought that
it is time to the listener said by using a pause in the end of his utterance.
Jim : but -but there is some:: (0.3) I don't know (0.2) (T129)
Ellen :yeah you're right if you do look at it that way and that's the take
away because it is heartbreaking (T30)
(Guest 3) : The conversation between Ellen and Sasha Alexander
Table 4.7 Taking the turn strategies that were used by the participants
Turn
Uptake yeah well all about is enough…..(T35)
Link but kno::w like the feeling..(T29)
Interrupting
Alert -
Metacomment its kind a broad as natural handout (T48)
Data 18
Ellen :=well she just like your sadness ((audience laugh)) when its like you need to cr::y is what just looking for someone to call upon I (T27)
Sasha : =should be a good luck (T28)
Ellen : =but kno::w like the feeling she walk around like is she white for make up off and walk around like in pajamas inside? (T29)
Sasha : ə:mm yes, I mean shares it ə:mm you know my only complaint
about her that she lives in Switzerland so we wanted to see her enough but I would say our biggest complaint about me is that I don’t wanna make up (T30)
In a conversation between Ellen and Sasha, there were turn taking