Lydia and Louise – competing for the floor (TU8)

Speakers: Lydia, female, 8, White British; Louise, female, 8, White British

Background
Lydia and Louise are friends from inner London. Here they are telling the interviewer about a playground that they like. Louise is a dominating speaker and Lydia finds it difficult to take the floor. It could be interesting to compare this extract with Howard and Junior’s Dog Story where, unlike Lydia and Louise, the two boys collaborate in telling their story to the interviewer. It could also be interesting to see how Louise uses features that typically involve the listeners in the discourse and that may therefore allow her to keep the floor.

Resources
Transcript
Discussion points
Audio: You can download the sound clip using the embedded player below. The download button is in the top right of the player window.