On the distribution of clicks and inbreaths in class presentations and spontaneous conversations: blending vocal and kinetic activities

Abstract

The present exploratory study compares the distribution of clicks and inbreaths in the productions of French students in two different communication settings (semiread oral class presentations vs spontaneous dyadic conversations). Grounded in a conversation analytic and discourse-pragmatic approach, mixing qualitative and quantitative methods, this study looks at the functions of clicks and inbreaths as well as accompanying kinetic behaviors (e.g swallowing, facial expressions, hand movement) in discourse. Preliminary results show a higher rate of pre-utterances clicks and inbreaths during oral presentations, which reflects the type of talk produced (structured and clear, which requires planning and preparation). And the qualitative analyses illustrate the ways speakers blend vocal and kinetic activities when producing clicks and inbreaths.