LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 17:12 December 2017
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
         Dr. S. Chelliah, Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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Topic Shift in Urdu Conversation: A Gender-Based Analysis

Badar Zaman, M.A.

Abstract

This paper tries to explore the ways of topic shift in Urdu conversation. It investigates the use of minimal responses in topic shifting in Urdu conversation. Employing the methodology of conversation analysis, the researcher demonstrates that the topic shift in Urdu conversation is sudden as well as progressive and it depends on gender relation and status of the participants.

Keywords: Topic Shift, Urdu, Gender

Introduction

A topic sentence shows one’s topic of conversation and the word shift refers towards the transition from one topic of discussion to another one. Topic is changed and transformed during a conversation one may start talking about one topic and finds himself latter talking about something quite different. The transitions and shifts are done abruptly or in a progressive manner depending on the context and participants or gender. The gender difference influences the topic shift in conversation. “The topics initiated by men are much more often developed than those initiated by women whereas the topics initiated by the women failed due to the failure of the men to respond and to do the international work necessary for the development of the topics” (Fishman, 1983: 97) . “In the conversation between same sex the boys do not pursue any topic for more than a few short turns and jump quickly from one topic to another, girls spend a much longer time developing each topic through mutual support work and unlike boys they make progressive rather than sudden topic shifts” (Tannen,1990:247). “Women use minimal responses, simultaneous speech, questions including tag questions, and laughter supportively to develop topics” (Coates, 1998: 237).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Badar Zaman, M.A.
Lecturer in English
Majmaah University
PYP Building, Malik Khalid Road
P.O. Box 66
Almajmaah 11952
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
bzsiddiqi@gmail.com

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