What is an overall organization?

Definition
	An overall organization is a schematic description of a kind of conversational encounter. It describes the types and order of a conversation’s turns and sequences.

Example (English)
	Here is an example of the overall organization of a telephone call:
	The typical features of a telephone call are as follows: It begins an opening section featuring a hello or identification of the answering party. This is followed by a hello and identification of the calling party, with an exchange of how are you. Then the first topic is announced, followed by topic closing and shifts to (preferably) related topics. This is followed by a closing section consisting of elements like passing turns of okay, an identification of the type of call [Well, I just wanted to call and …], more passing turns, and an exchange of good-byes.

Generic
	An overall organization is a kind of
	What is a sequence?

Source
	Levinson 1983 308–317

Context for this page:

Concept module: overall organization
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): O
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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