Opening up Closings
Abstract
Abstract : The paper presents some of the ways that have been developed for dealing with closings in conversation. Earlier work on conversation formulations of several problems that have been employed to cut into aspects of the data. One may derive an initial problem from a consideration of the most basic features of conversation that are now known of. A partial solution is developed. Problematic aspects of that solution lead to the derivation of another problem which permits the further illumination of the data about closings. After relating the two problems, the paper closes with an attempt to specify the domain for which the closing problems, as they have been posed seem apposite. (Author)
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When closings are done by users, they involve multiple strategies such as preclosing or closing-implicative moves and/or providing an account.
“When closings are done by users, they involve multiple strategies such as the inclusion of preclosing or closing-implicative moves (e.g., 'okay', see also Schegloff and Sacks 1973) and/or providing an account (e.g., 'I have to go', Licoppe and Rollet 2020).”
From AI in situated action: a scoping review of ethnomethodological and conversation analytic studies (2025) · cites this paper as Schegloff and Sacks 1973
The 'problem of closings' may relate to some of the many issues of miscommunication in human-AI interaction documented in the corpus of EM/CA studies.
“This 'problem of closings' (Schegloff and Sacks 1973: 292) may relate to some of the many issues of miscommunication in human-AI interaction documented in our corpus of EM/CA studies.”
From AI in situated action: a scoping review of ethnomethodological and conversation analytic studies (2025) · cites this paper as Schegloff and Sacks 1973
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Various (2026) · Learning, Culture and Social Interaction · doi:10.1016/j.lcsi.2026.101013
- Authors
- SCHEGLOFF, E. A., & SACKS, H.
- Venue
- Semiotica
- Publisher
- Walter de Gruyter GmbH
- Published
- 1973
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 4
- ISSN
- 0037-1998 (ISSN-L)
- 1613-3692
- OpenAlex
- W2068687198
- Cited by
- 4,589
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 78 · 2025: 150 · 2024: 145 · 2023: 194 · 2022: 197 · 2021: 236 · 2020: 229 · 2019: 187 · 2018: 211 · 2017: 177 · 2016: 285 · 2015: 252 · 2014: 187 · 2013: 121 · 2012: 143
- FWCI
- 56.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Semiotica (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Linguistics and Discourse Analysis
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Language and Linguistics › Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation
- Keywords
- closing, conversation analysis, turn-taking
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