@phdthesis{36159,
  author          = {Yankey, Emmanuel Koffi},
  pages           = {xii+229},
  school          = {Indiana University},
  title           = {The Organization of Nzema Conversational Interaction},
  year            = {2000},
  abstract        = {This dissertation explores the linguistic feature of pitch that Nzema speakers of Ghana use in the management of turn-taking, overlapping and repair. The study of interactive properties that organize turn-taking, overlapping and repair has been the focus of conversation analysts for the past few years. Conversational Analysis (CA) claims that the mechanism operating in the complex organization of conversation can be accounted for by a set of ordered rules that regulate turn-taking behavior and other interactive categories. Conversational Phonetic (CP) analysis, on the other hand, emphasizes the relevance of prosodic features in conversation. However, these studies have mostly been impressionistic. Only a few have measured the acoustic peak of pitch, particularly in the area of turn-taking. Further, in these studies, the findings have not been examined in specific sociolinguistic and pragmatic contexts of language use. In this study, transcripts of real-life conversation are presented and analyzed within an integrated and modified framework of CA and CP. In addition, F0 records of portions of participants' speech, where speaker transitions occur are plotted and examined. Results indicate that pitch regulates turn-taking. When a current speaker's falling pitch is associated with turn completion, the pitch tends to fall to the level of 90Hz or 95Hz. Pitch is also employed by Nzema speakers to perform various interactive tasks such as yielding the turn, controlling the floor, competing for the turn or seizing the floor from current speaker. However, findings show that linguistic items other than pitch are deployed for various repair operations. The social factor of age and specific cultural contexts may override the use of pitch.},
  adviser         = {Valdman, Albert},
  bestfn          = {africa\yankey_nzema2000v2_o.pdf},
  besttxt         = {ptxt2\africa\yankey_nzema2000v2_o.txt},
  cfn             = {africa\yankey_nzema2000_o.pdf},
  degree          = {PhD},
  delivered       = {africa\yankey_nzema2000_o.pdf},
  digital_formats = {PDF 7.00Mb image-only PDF},
  fn              = {africa\yankey_nzema2000v2_o.pdf, africa\yankey_nzema2000_o.pdf, africa\yankey_nzema2000.pdf},
  hhtype          = {specific_feature},
  inlg            = {English [eng]},
  isbn            = {9780599872752},
  lgcode          = {Nzima [nzi]},
  macro_area      = {Africa},
  oclc            = {45293145},
  source          = {DAI-A 61/08, p. 3151, Feb 2001},
  src             = {hh},
  subject         = {LANGUAGE, LINGUISTICS (0290); SPEECH COMMUNICATION (0459)},
  umi_id          = {9981044}
}