The Understanding of Conversation
2. They have some communicative purpose.
Speakers say things because they want something happen as a result of what they say..
3. They select from their language store.
Speakers have an infinite capacity to create new sentences in order to achieve this communicative purpose they will select from the ‘store’ of
language they possess the language they think is appropriate for this purposes.
3
Mc Donough and Christopher Shaw also give statement about reasons for speaking which says “As a skill which enables us to produce utterances, when
genuinely communicative, speaking is desire and purpose-driven, in other words we genuinely want to communicate something to achieve a particular end. This
may involve expressing ideas and opinions; solving a particular problem; or establishing and maintaining social relationships and friendships”.
4
Assuming an effective piece of communication, Harmer also make some generalizations about a listener or reader of language. By effective
communication we mean that there is a desire for the communication to be effective both form the point of view of the speaker and listener, there are three
points can be made about the listeners : 1.
They want to listen to ‘something’. Once again ‘want’ is used in a general way. But in order to for someone to
understand what they are listening to, they must have some desire to do so. 2.
They are interested in the communicative purpose of what being said.
In general people listen to language because they want to find out what the speaker is trying to say-in other words what ideas they are conveying, and
what effect they wish the communication to have.
3
Jeremy Harmer, The Practice of Language Teaching. New York: Longman Inc, 1983,
p.46- p.47
4
Jo Mc Donough, and Christopher Shaw, Materials and Methods In ELT, Teacher’s Guide
, Blackwell 108 Cowley Road: Oxford 0X4 IJF UK ,1993, p.152
3. They process a variety of language
Although the listener may have a good idea of what the speaker is going to say next, in general terms, he or she has to be prepared to process a great
variety of grammar and vocabulary to understand exactly what is being said.
5
According to Prof DR Tarigan to connect among people in society we need what we called communication, which unites each individual into groups by
crystallizing general concepts, maintaining and lasting general united importance, create a united symbols which differs from other groups, and deciding that act
cannot still durable without existences of language society. Speech as way of communication is extremely influencing in our
individual life. In this system we share our opinions, ideas, feels, and desires each other with assist of symbols, which is called ‘words’. This system gives
effectiveness for individual in constructing mental and emotional relationship with other members.
6
From all the statement above we can see that communication is the main purpose of learning a language. This is true whether one is speaking, listening,
reading or writing the language. Some forms are more different than others, but imparting a thought so that another can understand the primary objective. In
conversation the process is more obviously two-way or multiple-way requiring the restatement of ideas, responses, requesting clarification and more information, etc.
Students need to understand that they must become fully involved in the communication process with others in this case, students in English to gain
competence in it, even if it is foreign and confusing to them. Interaction, and thus communication, in the target language is essential to their progress.
7
Conversation according to Marion Owen is a random, unstructured kind of activity, with the view that in the course of co-coordinating their contributions,
5
Harmer, The Practice of Language Teaching…, p.47
6
Henry Guntur Tarigan, Berbicara, Sebagai Suatu Keterampilan Berbahasa, Bandung: Penerbit Angkasa, 1986, p.8
7
http:iteslj.orgArticlesOffner-HowToLearn.html
speakers collaborate to produce something that can be seen to be highly structured. It is also central to the ethnomethodological point of view that
structure cannot be discovered by introspection or controlled experimentation, but only through the close study of spontaneous conversation.
8
Janet Maybin defines conversation in the strict sense as informal talk between equal.
9
While Geoffrey Beattie in same place give statement which said that:
Conversation is without doubt the foundation stone of the social world human beings learn to talk in it, find a mate with it, are socialized through
it, rise in social hierarchy as a result of it, and, it is suggested, may even develop mental illness because of it Beattie, 1983, p.2.
10
Michael Agnes and David B. Guralnik say that conversation is : 1.
The act or an instance of talking together, specify; a familiar talk, verbal exchange of ideas, opinions, etc. b an informal conference on a
problem or area of interest by representatives of governments factions, etc.
2. Sexual intercourse: now only in the legal phrase criminal conversation,
i.e., adultery as grounds for divorce or other action. 3.
[Archaic] manner of living; behavior. 4.
[Obs] social intercourse. 5.
[Obs] familiarity based on study or use.
11
According to Eric Partridge says “in their speech senses, dialogue is a conversation between two or more persons; duologue is a conversation
especially in a dramatic piece between two persons, conversation is rather more
8
N.E. Collinge N.E. eds., An Encyclopedia of Language, London and New York: Routledge, 1990, p.250
9
Janet Maybin and Neil Mercer eds., Using English; From Conversation To Canon. London: Open University, 1996, p.5
10
Maybin, Using English; From Conversation To Canon …, p.5
11
Michael Agnes and David B. Guralnik eds., Webster’s New World College Dictionary
. Cleveland, Ohio: Wiley Publishing Inc, 2002, 4
th
Edition, p.318
dignified than talk, but it cannot be used, as talk is, for an informal address or short, familiar speech or discourse.
12
Margret Buchmann states that conversation as a tender romance of reason, where discourse, shinning with warmth from within, holds a promise of
congeniality and comfort, if not light. Understanding is no trophy of pride.
13
Most of us think of conversation as thing that is going on when two or more people talk to each other, on an equal footing, about people they know,
things they have been experiencing or doing, their plans for the future and so on. In technical sense that the talk involves participants in the reciprocating roles of
speaker and listener, and is spontaneous rather than scripted or planned.
14
H. Douglas Brown said “Conversation are excellent examples of interactive and interpersonal nature of communication.”
15
Unlike most other registers, conversation cannot be characterized in terms of communicative goals or social functions, the most that can be claimed is that it
is a pervasive activity among human beings, and that its primary function appears to be establish and maintain social cohesion through the sharing of experience,
although secondarily it may promote other goals such as entertainment e.g. through jokes and narratives, exchange of information and control of others’
behavior. Our operational definition of conversation is inclusive enough to subsume
many more specific types of verbal behavior, such as instructing, counseling, insulting, swapping anecdotes of conducting a business telephone call.
16
While Marc McCutcheon gives contribution about the understanding of conversation that it is a talk, dialogue, discourse, discussion, exchange,
12
Eric Partridge, Usage And Abusage; A Guide to Good English, England: Penguin Books Ltd, 1947, p.96
13
Margaret Buchmann, et al., Detachment and Concern; Conversations In The Philosophy of Teaching and Teacher Education
. New York: Teachers College, Columbia University, 1993, p.110
14
Dennis Freeborn, et. al., Varieties Of English; An Introduction To The Study of language,
Macmillan Press Ltd, 1986, 2
nd
Edition, p.117- p.118
15
H Douglas Brown, Principles Of Language Learning and Teaching New York: Addison-Wesley Longman Inc, 2000, Fourth Edition, p.255
16
Douglas Biber, et al., Longman; Grammar Of Spoken And Written English. Longman, 1989, p.1041
communication, chat, colloquy, interlocution, conference, intercourse, gab, rap, palaver, give-and-take, and small talk.
17
From all the statement above, the writer concludes conversation is wider than a talk, it has broad meaning depend on place is applied. Conversation can be
a dialogue, discussion, interlocution, exchange, discourse, etc. So, it can be determined that conversation has several meaning based on its purpose and each
meaning above has different function according to viewpoint itself.