Vocal Behavior

Vocal Behavior

Conversation One

(First Name of Friend: Kenneth)

1a. What did you do to prevent the other from getting a speaking turn?

In order to prevent Kenneth from getting a speaking turn, I talked in a loud audible and strongly assertive voice so as to discourage Kenneth from speaking. This way, I was able to gain the upper hand in the conversation and prevent him from talking. I was also careful to prevent him from completing his sentences and interrupting him whenever he started speaking. This was meant to give him the impression that his viewpoint was not important in the conversation so that he is less motivated to speak. I believe that the loud tone that I used was also effective in interrupting him from time to time and this allowed me to command the conversation and prevent Kenneth from getting his turn.

1b. How did your partner try to get the floor?

Even though I was able to prevent Kenneth from gaining an upper hand in the conversation, he was persistent and tried time and again to present his views by using a loud and assertive tone. It was also unmistakable how particularly animated he became after a certain period of time. This may have been because he became aware of the fact that his viewpoint was being given little consideration by me. As a result, Kenneth became increasingly animated during the course of the conversation, using hand gestures and facial expressions with greater effect, while his voice also became louder and louder to negotiate my loud voice.

1c. What is your advice for most effectively holding the floor when someone else is trying to get it?

In my opinion, the most effective approach that one can use to hold the floor when someone else is trying to get it is by asserting one's views and opinions in an assertive manner and regularly interrupting the listener so that he is not able to speak at all. By making sure that the other person is not able to complete his sentences, one can effectively prevent them from getting hold of the floor. Interruption is also effective in preventing the other person from building a cohesive and clear chain of thought which he can use to speak his turn.

1d. How can turn-maintaining affect a relationship with a new friend?

When taking the strong bond of friendship into consideration, it is imperative that one friend respects the other. In the art of conversation, it is essential to maintain a balance between talking and listening. A good friend is one who not only talks well and expresses his own views and opinions clearly and eloquently but is also able to listen to the views and opinions of a friend. This maintains equilibrium and, through turn maintaining, the listener is able to get the encouragement to present his own thoughts to a friend. Therefore, it is imperative that a person knows when to talk and when to listen. Turn-maintaining is critical in a conversation and it has a great effect on ...