PA U L A M AC D O N A L D , N I C , M . S .
CONSUMING CONVERSATION STYLES
PAULA MACDONALD
• Degrees• A.A.S. Interpreting/Translation• B.A. “Multicultural Interpreting”• M.S. Interpreting with and emphasis in Pedagogy• Teaching Practicum at ITAT in Graz, Austria.
• Practitioner• Nationally Certified Interpreter: American Sign
Language/English• Educator• Consultant
OUR WORK TOGETHER
• Conversation Styles• Dr. Deborah Tannen
• Make our communication cake.
• How do/should Conversation Styles impact our work as Interpreters?
OBJECTIVES
• identify the components of communication.
• demonstrate your own communication style.
• assess the impact that communication styles have on their interpretations through group work.
Georgetown University, Washington, DC
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DR. DEBORAH TANNEN
THE MECHANICS OF CONVERSATION STYLES
Involvement Independence
WARM UP THOUGHTS
• Have you ever had to have a difficult or challenging conversation with someone at work, home or school?
• Why was it so difficult to have ‘that’ conversation?
“conversation is a turn-taking game (pg. 47)”
PAUSING AND PACING
• Holding the floor
• Intuition plays a role in when turn-taking occurs.
• Reasons• Breath, searching for words, effect, habit
CAKE: WILL YOU SHARE?
THINK, PAIR, SHARE
PITCH
• Changes the Metamessages
• Signals Meaning
• Questions• Uncertainty• Asking for approval
EXPECTATIONS
• Too few changes in pitches• Monotone• Bland
• Too many pitches• Overdramatic• Overemotional
WHAT DOES YOUR CAKE CONVEY?
THINK, PAIR, SHARE
“Anything you say has to be said [signed] at some level of loudness or softness, and as you speak, that level
can go up or down (pg. 49).”
LOUDNESS AND SOFTNESS
• Relational ideas
• Switching signals (Now, Wait)
• Express emotions
• Sign of respect (talking softer)
CAKE: HOW LOUD IS YOUR CAKE?
THINK, PAIR, SHARE
“the music of talk (pg. 51)”
INTONATION
• Combines all• Pace• Pausing• Loudness• Pitch
THINK, PAIR, SHARE
OUR WORK
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AS INTERPRETERS
• Additional considerations• Gender• Multicultural• Quality of Life• Value Systems• Mental Health-disjointed language
GENDERS-GENERALLY SPEAKING
Women
• Greater shifts in pitches
Men
MENTAL HEALTH
“…whose job
REVIEW: TOGETHER WE
• identify the components of communication.
• demonstrate your own communication style.
• assess the impact that communication styles have on their interpretations through group work.
REFERENCES & RESOURCES
Tannen, D. (2011). That’s Not What I Meant! How Conversational Styles Makes or Breaks Relationships. New York, NY: Harper Collins.
http://faculty.georgetown.edu/tannend/scholarly_articles.html