Turn Taking Signals within Iranian Context

Abstract

Turn-taking is a systematic process by which interlocutors organize their speech in a conversation and every successful conversation needs a development in turn taking skills. That is, skills that enable interlocutors to listen, consider the information and contribute the flow of conversation. This paper argues the need for an analysis of the signals used by Persian speakers of English while taking turns in debate-based courses. For haling the eventuality of such a matter verbal and non-verbal signals of turn-taking of a debate-based class were analyzed. Results showed that gaze behaviors and hand gestures were important non-verbal turn-taking and attempt suppressing signals and asking questions and using intonation were among the most prominent linguistic signals within Iranian context.