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Speaking style as an expression of solidarity: Words per pause

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Norman Markel
Norman Markel
Affiliation:
Department of Communication Processes and Disorders, University of Florida
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Abstract

This study examines the use of words per pause (W/P) as a practical means for identifying solidarity in everyday conversation. Eight listeners recorded the narratives of a female and a male, either friends or strangers. Ten speakers were categorized as friends and six as strangers; they talked about a good and a bad experience. Average reliability of coding pauses was .83. The results indicated a statistically significant difference in W/P of speakers who were friends and those who were strangers. Statistical results support the conclusion that friends are more likely to employ many W/P and strangers few W/P. One practical implication of this study is that W/P can be employed by researchers with relative ease and a high degree of reliability for investigations of speaking style in a variety of contexts. A second practical implication is that W/P is a diagnostic device that can serve as a social litmus test in everyday conversation to identify the expression of sympathy and estrangement. (Expressive language, nonverbal communication, paralanguage, pauses, psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics, solidarity, speech and personality)

Type
Articles
Information
Language in Society , Volume 19 , Issue 1 , March 1990 , pp. 81 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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References

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