The Factors Influencing the Differences of Turn Taking Patterns
We also can see that completion sentence is not produced by the participants in both classes. Completion sentence as same as short interruption. If
completion sentence is produced by the participants, it means that they do interruption. In fact, interruption only occurs not more than 5 times in both classes
and it can be long utterances. Therefore, completion sentence that can be short interruption does not occur in both classes.
Another kind of backchannel in both classes is short question. Short question in non-formal class is more often found than in formal class. This
different number can indicate that the students in non-formal class are more curious than in formal class. This curiosity utterance in non-formal class is
produced by the students because they have bravery in giving responses. On the other hand, in formal class the students get passive therefore that they do not have
enough curiosity and they are not produced short question. Kind of backchannel also appears in short restatement. This response is
produced by the participants when they show their understanding of the current speaker. The number of short restatement in both classes appears equally. The
equal number can be identified because the students in both classes are requested by the teacherthe tutor for making sure that the students understand
the teacher‟s explanation.
The last kind of backchannel can be seen on laughing response. It occurs when there is something funny or strange in the current speaker‟s utterances. This
non-verbal response in the conversations of both classes has equal number. The equal number can be identified because laughing in the classroom conversations
can make the learning process will be fun and more alive. Therefore, in non- formal and formal classes, the teacher or the tutor sometime cracks a joke.
As mentioned before that backchannel mostly occurs in short response, these responses are produced by the receiver the students with the difference
functions. It can be seen on the following table. Table 2: The Comparison of Backchannel Functions in Both Classes
Backchannel Non-formal
Formal 2.
Functions of backchannel ∑
∑ a. Continuance
41 64
23 36
b. Content comprehension 26
81 6
19 c. Agreement
18 60
12 40
d. Reconfirmation e. Emotional response
11 44
14 56
Total 96
64 55
36
It can be seen in table 2, that the most frequently function of backchannel in the conversations of both classes is continuance. Continuance function in non-
formal class has a large number than in formal class. This function is used to continue the previous speaker which indicates the receivers the students give full
attention for the tutor‟s utterances. The other function of backchannel is content comprehension. Content
comprehension shows that the receiver can catch and understand what the current speaker says. This function is more often found in non-formal class than in formal
class. This different number can be identified because the students in non-formal class are more active than the students in formal class. If the students in non-
formal class do not catch the tutor‟s explanation, they ask for responding the tutor
utterance. The response can be long, if they will ask more and the response can be short if they only ask what they do not know.
Backchannel also can be used for agreement. Agreement functions shows that the receiver agrees and have a same argument for the current speaker
intention. The number of agreement function in both classes is equal. This equal number can be identified because of in showing the students‟ acceptance of the
tutorthe teacher‟s utterances, they commonly show their short agreement response.
Backchannel also used for reconfirmation of the current speaker utterances. This function is not used in non-formal and in formal classes. This
function is not used by the participant because the receiver has understood the current speaker‟s intention and they will not ensure whether their comprehension
correct or not. The last function of back-channel is emotional response. This function has
the equal number in non-formal class and in formal class. The equal number shows that the receiver in both classes expresses their emotional in responding the
current speake r‟s utterances.
Interruptions as one of turn taking features in both classes only occur in several data. Interruption occurs in both classes when the teacherthe tutor is
explaining the materials, the students interrupt the teacher‟sthe tutor‟s utterances.
It occurs when the teacher takes a long time at delivering the materials and makes the students impatiently interrupt himher. Actually, interruption has negative
implication because the current speaker is not already finished hisher utterances