Interruptions in chat

Abstract

The research on text-based synchronous computer-mediated communication (SCMC), while generally acknowledging the potential benefits afforded by the medium's capacity for extensive self-repair, has done little in the way of exploration of the nature of such text. Indeed, until quite recently, output logs have been favored almost exclusively at the expense of richer records of the interaction that can better account for this deleted text. Another basic aspect of SCMC interaction is the occurrence of interruptions initiated by one's interlocutor during the message composition phase. The possible effect of these interruptions on the chat interaction, however, has again been largely ignored in the literature. This study examines the relationship between these interruptions and deleted text as well as the effect such interruptions have on the subsequent output produced by learners.