Multimodal Resources in Turn-Taking in Semi-Institutional Mandarin Multiparty Interactions

Abstract

This study investigates the utilization of multimodal resources in organizing turn-taking during multiparty interactions in a Mandarin talk show. By applying multimodal conversation analysis and interactional linguistics to 5.8 hours of impromptu talk show data, the study reveals that the chair and the other participants orient to their dual roles, both institutional and real-life, to configure a semi-institutional setting. Besides, the multimodal resources can be effectively used by the participants, i.e., the host and the guests, to manage contingencies during turn-taking, including visible cues, embodied movements, and pragmatic (in)completion. The findings contribute to our understanding of the dynamics of turn-taking in semi-institutional settings and shed light on the interplay of multimodal resources in larger group conversations. The research expands the existing literature on multiparty institutional conversations in Mandarin.